Objective To evaluate CT and MRI features of brain lesions in CO poisoning and to compare the ability of detecting rate of lesions by CT and MRI.Methods CT and MRI appearances in 52 cases with CO poisoning were analysed and compared.Results Necroses and degenerations of globus pallidus in 9 cases,cerebral white matter demyelination in 3 cases and brain atrophy in 3 cases were showed by CT.The detecting rate was 28.8% by CT while,necroses and degeneration of glodus pallidus were observed in 24 cases and white matter change in 7 cases were observed by MRI,the detecting rate was 59.6% which was higher than that of CT (?

Objective To investigate the distribution of high-arsenic drinking water in Honghu city of Hubei province in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of endemic arsenic disease.Methods Investigations were made in 22 townships(towns,districts),68 natural villages of the drainage areas of the Dongjing River,the Neijing River and the Yangtse River in 2006 and 2007,with the townships(towns,districts)around Shahu town in Xiantao city as the focal point.1000 water samples were drawn each year,which was 10% of all the wells in every natural village.Using sampling investigation,water arsenic Was determined by half-quantitative fast reagent kit.All samples of water with arsenic exceeding the standard(≥0.03 mg/L)were re-determined according to state standard.Surveys on the disease was carried out in the villages(brigades)where arsenic exceeded the standard.Results A total of 2000 samples were surveyed from 68 natural villages,of which there were 401 samples from 48 villages exceeding the standard in a rate of 20.05%(401/2000).The highest arsenic content Was 0.71 mg/L.The high arsenic water sources were distributed mainy in the drainage areas of the Dongjing River and the Neijing River,but no patients with endemic arsenic disease were found.Conclusions The high arsenic water sources are distributed mainly in the drainage areas of the Dongjing River and the Neijing River.It is suggested that the interrelated government departments should take precise measures to impmve the quality of drinking water and ensure safe water to the residents in high arsenic areas.

OBJECTIVETo study the color reappearance effect of metal-ceram restoration and foundry-ceram restoration using Crystaleye spectrophotometer.

METHODS58 metal-ceram restorations and 58 foundry-ceram restorations according to the result of the Crystaleye spectrophotometer were made respectively. The deltaE between restorations and natural teeth as referenced were analyzed. And satisfaction of dentists and patients were evaluated.

RESULTSThe deltaE between metal-ceram restorations and natural teeth was 7.13 +/- 0.74. The deltaE between foundry-ceram restorations and teeth was 1.47 +/- 0.84. There were statistical differences between the deltaE (P < 0.01). The satisnatural faction of dentists and patients to the foundry-ceram restorations were higher than to the metal-ceram restorations (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCrystaleye spectrophotometer can provide accurate reference for foundry-ceram restoration, but for metal-ceram restoration it is not accurate.

Color ; Humans ; Metals ; Spectrophotometry ; Tooth

Sixteen compounds have been isolated from the EtOAc fraction of 95% ethanolic extract of Sophora dunnii through silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-prerarative HPLC column chromatographies. Their structures were identified on the basis of NMR and MS spectra data as phaseollidin (1), L-maackiain (2), 2-(2',4'-dihidroxyphenyl)-5,6-methylenedioxy benzofuran (3), 8-demethyl-farrerol (4), liquiritigenin (5), genistein (6), 6-methylgenistein (7), 5-O-methyl genistein (8), 7,2',4'-trihydroxys-5-methoxy-isoflavanone (9), 7, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-isoflavanone (10), erythribyssin D (11), calycosin (12), trans-resveratrol (13), cis-resveratrol (14), stigmasterol (15), β-sitosterol (16). Among these, compounds 1-14 and 16 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chemical Fractionation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo determine the outcome of combined anterior C2,3 reduction and fusion with posterior compressive C2 pedicle screw fixation for the management of unstable Hangman's fractures.

METHODSSixteen cases of unstable Hangman's fractures were retrospectively reviewed through X-ray, MRI and three dimensional CT scans. Pre- and postoperative radiographs were measured for translation and angulation of C2,3. Skull traction under extension poison was conducted in all the patients right after their admission. Then anterior C2,3 discectomy followed by interbody fusion, either with iliac autograft or with box cage, and locking plate fixation were performed in each case. Because dissatisfied reduction, mainly residual large fracture gap or kyphosis, was found by the C-arm fluoroscopy during operations, posterior compressive C2 pedicle screw fixation was performed in one stage. According to the Levine-Edwards classification, there were 12 cases of type II, 2 of type I a and 2 of type III in this group.

RESULTSFollow-up ranged 6-38 months, averaged 26 months. Fracture union and bone graft fusion were completed in an average of 4 months after operation. Complaints of neck pain and numbness of limbs disappeared in all patients after surgery, but range of neck motion decreased compared with normal people. Translation of C2 decreased from (4.2 +/- 1.4) mm preoperatively to (2.3 +/- 1.1) mm postoperatively, while angulation of C2,3 decreased from 8.6 degrees +/- 2.1 degrees preoperatively to 2.6 degrees +/- 1.0 degrees postoperatively. Both have statistical significance (P < 0.05). No implant failure or infection was observed.

CONCLUSIONSThe classification of Hangman's fracture should be modified in combination with MRI and CT scans to determine the stability of the fracture. Combined anterior C2,3 reduction and fusion with posterior compressive C2 pedicle screw fixation is the treatment of choice for patients with unstable Hangman's fractures.

Adult ; Aged ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; injuries ; surgery ; Bone Nails ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of dual-head (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) imaging in metastatic lesion with unknown primary tumour (UPT).

METHODSSeventy patients with UPT underwent dual-head (18)F-FDG imaging after iv (18)F-FDG 1.85 MBq/kg. The primary tumour was diagnosed according to the FDG uptake and T/N value.

RESULTSOf the 70 patients, the primary tumour was identified by positive FDG imaging and finally confirmed pathologically in 58 patients (82.9%), and 12 patients had a negative FDG imaging (17.1%). Forty-two of the 58 positive patients were found to have lung cancer (72.4%). Among the 12 negative patients, their primary tumour was then identified by other diagnostic procedures in 5 patients (41.7%), in 1 patient, the primary site was detected during follow-up, however, the primary tumour was never detected in the rest 6 patients.

CONCLUSIONDual-probe (18)F-FDG imaging is a simple, quick, non-invasive and sensitive technique with an accuracy over 80% in the diagnosis of unknown primary tumour. The lung is found to be the most frequent primary site. Dual-probe (18)F-FDG imaging can be recommended as the first diagnostic choice for UPT.

Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Neoplasms, Unknown Primary ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of abnormal metabolism in the thalamus and hypothalamus in patients with first-episode depression.

METHODSThirty drug-naive patients with first-episode depression and 30 age-matched controls were scanned with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) for Naa, Cho, Cr and mI.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the patients showed significantly reduced mI and mI/Cr of the hypothalamus, reduced mI/Cr of the left thalamus, and lowered Cho, ml, and ml/Cr of the right thalamus (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with first-episode depression may have myo-inositol and phosphoric acid metabolism disorder in the thalamus and hypothalamus with malfunction of cellular osmotic pressure adjustment mechanism. Abnormal mI/Cr in the thalamus and hypothalamus may represent an important biochemical change in advanced patients with depression.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Choline ; metabolism ; Creatine ; metabolism ; Depression ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Inositol ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protons ; Thalamus ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Animals ; History, 20th Century ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVESTo understand the epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks in some areas of Guangdong province and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control measures against it.

METHODSStandardized questionnaire was used on individual cases. Data on the epidemiological characteristics as time, place, persons and aggregation status of SARS cases, development of the epidemics, were analyzed with software EPI 6.0.

RESULTSThe incidence of SARS in Guangdong province was 1.72/100,000 with case fatality rate as 3.64%. Most cases of SARS occurred between the last ten days of January and the first ten days of February with the peak (61.88% of the patients) occurred in the first ten days of February. As to the distribution of place, Pearl river delta region-economically developed with great number of mobile population-was heavily affected areas (account for 96.66% of the total patients). The majority of patients were young adults and medical staff seemed to be the most affected subgroup (account for 24.9% of the patients in total). Family and hospital aggregation of patients comprised the another two important characteristics of SARS (account for 37.1% of the total patients).

CONCLUSIONCurrent knowledge on SARS suggested that it was an air-borne infectious disease with human beings served as the source of infection. The incubation period of the disease was from 1 to 12 days with a median of 4 days. Respiratory secretions and close contact contributed to person-to-person transmission. Most cases were distributed in Pearl river delta region, an area famous for its economic development and heavy flow of mobile population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Contact Tracing ; Disease Outbreaks ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Adult ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Azacitidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Treatment Outcome