Objective To characterize the ocular findings on MRI in patients with Vagt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (VKHS)and its value for diagnosis. Methods The MRI findings of eyes in 14 patients (7 males, 7 females, age ranged 10-62 years) with VKHS were retrospectively analyzed. Results Choriodai thickening was found bilaterally in all 14 patients with isointense signal on T2 and T1 weighted images. Exudative retinal detachment was found in 6 patients (12 eyes) and 5 cases (10 eyes) showed abnormal thickening and enhancement of iris. Two cases were accompanied with optic neuritis. Homogeneous enhancement of lesions after administration of gadopentetate was observed in 11 patients. Conclusion M RI can characterize the ocular lesions and their extent in patients with VKHS, which makes MRI as a useful method to diagnosis and the follow-up of these patients.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Ivermectin ; analogs & derivatives ; poisoning ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To characterize the regular and the dynamic contrast enhancement MR imaging in choroidal hemangioma.Methods MR imaging findings of 30 cases (31eyes, 32 lesions) with choroidal hemangioma confirmed by follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed.Among them, postcontrasted T1-weighted imaging was performed in 30 patients and dynamic contrast enhancement scanning was performed in 26 cases.MRI findings and the time-intensity curve of dynamic contrast enhancement were analyzed.Results Among the 32 choroidal hemangiomas, 26 of them were at the temporal side of optic disc and 28 lesions were fusiform.Before enhancement, 23 lesions showed isointense T1-weighted signal and 31 lesions were isointense on T2-weighted imaging.All the lesions showed strong enhancement on postcontrast T1-weighted imaging, including 31 homogenously enhanced lesions and one heterogeneously enhanced lesion.Retinal detachments were found in 18 eyes.Fill-in sign were observed in 12 lesions during dynamic contrast enhancement.The time-intensity curve of dynamic contrast enhancement in 28 lesions suggested a pattern with rapid enhancement and slow washout, time to peak (91.00±25.27) s, slope ratio 3.03±1.13, the median of washout ratio 17.06%, enhancement ratio 2.87±0.79.Conclusion MRI showed a few features of the location, shape, signal characteristics, and enhancement pattern in choroidal hemangioma, which may contribut to diagnosis and treatment plan of this disease.

Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics and the evolution of the influenza A (H3N2) virus strains circulating in Jiangsu province between 2013 and 2014.Methods This study analyzed thirty-one representative strains of influenza A (H3N2) virus, which were isolated in different regions of Jiangsu province and during different time periods from 2013 to 2014.Results Genetic distances in nucleic acid and amino acid between a strain used for vaccine production (A/Texas/50/2012) and the 31 strains were 0.010 5 and 0.012 4.Similarities between them in nucleic acid and amino acid sequences were 97.9%-99.6% and 97.2%-99.3%.Phylogenetic analysis showed that the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the 31 strains were divided into three different groups.Three strains isolated in 2013 and three strains isolated in 2014 belonged to Group 1 and Group 2, respectively, while the others belonged to Group 3.Three positive selection sites (237, 366 and 367) in HA protein were observed by REL model.Compared with the strain used for vaccine production, the 31 strains were characterized by amino acid substitutions (N128A/T and P198S/A) in HA protein and all of the mutations located in B-cell epitopes.The total number of mutation sites reached 24.Compared with the A/Texas/50/2012 strain, seven strains presented the glycosylation site 126NWT, and three strains showed disappeared glycosylation sites of 45NSS and 144NNS.Evaluation of vaccine efficacy for A(H3N2) virus strains showed that the vaccine efficacy was not very well.Conclusion The HA gene of A(H3N2) virus had undergone a greater variation and the vaccine efficacy was not very well in Jiangsu province during 2013 to 2014, which made the influenza A(H3N2) virus become the circulating strain.

OBJECTIVE To study how to properly evaluate the curative effect of chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps management with endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS). METHODS Nasal airway resistance, olfactory function, the morphological character of mucosa in nasal and sinus cavity after ESS were surveyed by anterior rhinomanometry,T&T olfactometer standard odors for measuring olfactory sense,acoustic rhinometry and scoring measure of mucosa. RESULTS After ESS, nasal airway resistance decreased and olfactory functions improved obviously. The morphological characters of mucosa in nasal and sinus cavity affect the surgical result directly. CONCLUSION As the determining methods of nasal function after/before ESS,anterior rhinomanometry,T&T olfactometer standard odors,acoustic rhinometry and scoring measure of mucosa can be used to comprehensive estimate the curative effect of ESS objectively.

ObjectiveTo investigate the MRI appearance of malignant melanoma in the sinonasal tract and nasopharynx.MethodsMRI Findings and clinical data from 8 patients with biopsy or operation proved malignant melanoma were retrospectively reviewed.Gadolinium-enhanced imaging and dynamic contrast enhancement scanning were performed in all cases.ResultsThe majority of lesions were located in the nasopharynx (n =2),middle turbinate (n =1 ),or a combination of the nasal cavity,ethmoidal sinus,and maxillary sinus ( n =5 ).The aggressive nature of the tumors was demonstrated by bone destruction ( n =5 ) and invasion of adjacent structures,involving anterior fossa (n =2 ),orbits (n =4 ),infratemporal fossa ( n =2 ),pterygopalatine fossa ( n =3 ),and parapharyngeal space ( n =1 ).The MRI appearance included two patterns.In the first pattern,the tumors were round and small (smaller than 2 cm in maximum dimension in three patients).MR signal intensity of the lesions was hyperintense to gray matter on T1 WI and hypointense on T2.In the second pattern,the lesions were irregular and large ( larger than 3 cm in maximum dimension in five patients).They showed heterogeneous low-signal on T1 WI.On T2WI,one lesion showed isointensity or little hypo-intensity,and four lesions showed hyperintense.They demonstrated mild heterogeneous enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced images.Four patients demonstrated as plateau type time-signal intensity curve (TIC) pattern,and another four patients demonstrated as wash-out type TIC pattern.ConclusionsThe MR signal characteristic of the malignant melanoma in the sinonasal tract and nasopharynx were related with the tumor size.When the lesion was small,the MR signal intensity was more typical.When the lesion was large,they had mixed signal intensity as other malignant tumors,and specific mild heterogeneous enhancement.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical outcomes rating scale for heart failure (HF) based on patients' report.

METHODSTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF (TCM-HF-PRO) were evaluated based on 340 HF patients' report from multiple centers. The completion of the investigation was recorded. Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability were used for reliability analysis, and factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity of the rating scale. Pearson correlation analysis was then used for criterion validity analysis. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the responsiveness of the scale. All 340 HF patients having complete TCM-HF-PRO data were assigned to the treatment group and the control group by central randomization. The total TCM-HF-PRO scores of the two groups were compared using paired t-test to reflect the longitude responsiveness of the scale before treatment and at week 2 after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The recycling rate of the scale was 100.0%. One of them was not filled completely, which was rejected thereby. So the completion rate was 99.7%. The completion time for TCM-HF-PRO scale ranged 15 to 25 min. (2) The Cronbach's α coefficient of rating scale was 0.903, split-half reliability was 0.844 and 0.849. (3) Confirmatory factor analysis showed that 7 factors and items formed according to maximum load factor basically coincided with the construct of the rating scale, 7 factors accumulated contribution rate was 43.8%. TCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report was relatively better correlated with the Minnesota living with HF questionnaire (r = 0.726, P < 0.01). (4) Discriminant analysis showed that the rating scale correctly classified more than 78.8% of case studies having confirmed initial differential diagnosis by experts. The total scale of the rating scale decreased more in the two group after treatment, with significant difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report had good reliability, validity and responsiveness, hence it could be used to assess clinical efficacy for HF patients.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Discriminant Analysis ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The changes of kernel nutritive components and seed vigor in F1 seeds of sh2 sweet corn during seed development stage were investigated and the relationships between them were analyzed by time series regression (TSR) analysis. The results show that total soluble sugar and reducing sugar contents gradually declined, while starch and soluble protein contents increased throughout the seed development stages. Germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index gradually increased along with seed development and reached the highest levels at 38 d after pollination (DAP). The TSR showed that, during 14 to 42 DAP, total soluble sugar content was independent of the vigor parameters determined in present experiment, while the reducing sugar content had a significant effect on seed vigor. TSR equations between seed reducing sugar and seed vigor were also developed. There were negative correlations between the seed reducing sugar content and the germination percentage, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index, respectively. It is suggested that the seed germination, energy of germination, germination index and vigor index could be predicted by the content of reducing sugar in sweet corn seeds during seed development stages.
Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Germination ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Zea mays ; chemistry ; growth & development

Objective To study a rare CT finding of pulsatile tinnitus(FT)caused by sigmoid sinus abnormalities.Methods The imaging data of PT caused by sigmoid sinus abnormalities were analyzed retrospectively in 15 patients(15 female).The median age was 45 years(24 to 63 years).The duration of persistence pulsatile tinnitus was from 0.5 year to 36.0 years(median time,2.0 years).The tinnitus was at left side in 5 patients and right side in 10 patients.Fifteen patients underwent HRCT of the temporal bone.Of them,12 patients underwent cerebral CT angiography and CT venogram(CTA/CTV),and 9 patients underwent cerebral digital subtraction angiography(DSA).Nine patients underwent transmastoid reconstruction surgery of the sigmoid sinus.Of them,the tinnitus was at left side in 2 patients and right side in 7 patients.Paired rank sum test was used to compare the cross-sectional area of the sigmoid sinus of the tinnitus side and normal side.Results On HRCT,focal bony coarse defect is shown in the anterior sigmoid wall in 11 patients and anterolateral sigmoid wall in 4 patients.On CTA/CTV,the sigmoid sinus focally protruded into the adjacent mastoid air cells and formed diverticulum in 10 patients.The pulsatile tinnitus disappeared immediately after transmastoid reconstruction surgery of the sigmoid sinus in all 9 patients.The cross-sectional area of the sigmoid sinus of the tinnitus side was 100.6(41.5-96.2)mm~2,it was 77.0(92.1-122.4)mm~2 in the nonmal side(Z=2.158,P=0.031).Conclusion Focal bony defect of the sigmoid wall with sigmoid sinus diverticula is one of the causes which lead to pulsatile tinnitus,which can be easily identified by imaging examination.

AIM AND METHODSThe effect of intrahippocampal microinjection of noradrenaline (NA) and its receptors antagonists and agonists on cellular immune functions were investigated in normal and adrenalectomy rat by determine the proliferative activity of Con A-stimulated splenic lymphocytes in MTT method and natural killer (NK) cell activity.

RESULTS(1) In normal group, the proliferative activity of Con A-Stimulated splenic lymphocytes were inhibited and the activity of NK cell were reduced with microinjection NA and beta1-, beta2-adrenergic receptor agonists Dobutamine (Dob, 4 microl, 6.0 x 10(-3) moL/L), Metaproterenol (Met, 4 microl, 8.0 x 10(-3) mol/L), compared with their intensity of effect, NA > Met > Dob; the immunosuppression effect induced by NA was partly hindered by alpha- and beta-receptor antagonists, phentolamine (Phen, 2 microl, 1.6 x 10(-2) mol/L) and propranolol (Prop, 2 microl, 1.6 x 10(-3) mol/L), and the action of Prop was more evident. (2) In adrenalectomy group, immunosuppression effect induced by NA was unconspicuous.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that NA in hippocampus could inhibit distinctly cellular immune functions, which was predominantly mediated by beta2- adrenergic receptor with a minor contribution of beta1- and alpha- adrenergic receptors. Moreover, keeping intact construction and function of adrenal gland have an important role in the effect of NA on cellular immune function.

Adrenergic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; Immunity, Cellular ; drug effects ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Microinjections ; Norepinephrine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology