Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; Referral and Consultation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Telepathology ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends

Objective To explore drinking water pollution by algae in Wuhan. Methods Sampling was carried out in different kinds of tap waters and tank waters for algae detection and identification. Results The detection rate of algae in tap waters was 89% in tank water it was 86% and at the same spot the genera and number of algae in the tank waters increased by 37% and 60% compared with the tap waters respectively. Conclusion Drinking water has been polluted by algae in different degree in Wuhan.

Objective Cervical instability was mostly caused by trauma. However, degenerative cervical instability was diagnosed rarely according to the present criteria although cervical degeneration was common in aged people. The study was aimed at investigating the results of surgical treatment for degenerative cervical instability and to define the indications for surgical intervention. Methods From April 1998 to April 2001, anterior cervical fusion and plate fixation were applied in fifteen patients, there were 6 males and 9 females aged from 44 to 65 years with an average of 55.2 years. The patients showed roentgenographic instability of the cervical spine associating with cervical postural symptoms. Spondylotic cervical myelopathy were excluded from the group. The cervical postural symptoms were those presented or aggravated with flexion-extension or rotational movements of the cervical spine, such as neck-shoulder pain, cervical spondylotic radiculopathy symptoms, sympathetic or vertebral artery symptoms. The symptoms lasted from 18 months to 4 years before the index surgery, all patients had received more than one year conservative treatments, but no any improvement. Seven cases were fused with iliac autograft, in which three cases were on single intervertebral spaces, four cases on double spaces, and grooved bone graft was used in the patient of double space fusion. Intervertebral fusion cage (Titanium mesh) was used in 8 cases; allograft was used in 2 single space cases; grooved autograft was used in 6 double space cases. Excised vertebral body was used as autograft material. Results The patients were followed up from 8 months to 4 years with an average of 25 months. All patients were satisfactory for the surgical results in follow-up period. All symptoms were released in 12 cases, occasional neck pain was found in 3 cases, and there was no abnormality presented in clinical examination. Solid fusion was achieved in all of cases at follow-up, the fused segment was stable judging by dynamic roentgenogram. Conclusion Fusion of the unstable segments is an alternative procedure for degenerative cervical instability in case the cervical postural symptoms are consistent with the radiographic features. Since some degenerative instability of cervical spine may spontaneously achieve re-stabilization, the indication of surgical fusion must be strictly limited to avoid over-treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common clinical disease that seriously threatens human health and life. Accurate location of the upper airway obstruction is the key to the diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS. Acoustic pharyngometry uses sound reflection to quickly assess the cross-sectional area and volume of the upper airway. Acoustic pharyngometry represents a simple, quick, non-invasive method for measuring upper airway dimensions which could predict sleep apnea risk. In this article we sought to introduce the application of acoustic pharyngometry in the diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS.
Acoustics ; Humans ; Larynx ; Pharynx ; diagnostic imaging ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Syndrome

To enhance the capacity for extending and applying appropriate health technologies in rural areas in China,this paper proposes a supportive policy system that incoperates macro,average and microlevels. Thepolicysystemfocusesonorientation, incentives, regulationsand standardization,and its objectives and measures of each level are described.The policy system will contribute to the sustainable development rural health work.

This paper reviews the development of appropriate health technology policy from 1992 to 2012 in Zhejiang province.The evolvement of recent twenty years is classified into several stages and each is analysed and evaluated.This study provides reference for the establishment of appropriate health technology policy and the transformation of science and technology policy across the country.

Objective Establish an overall performance evaluation index system for innovative medical devices transforming project,a major science and technology project in Zhejiang province.Methods The weight of indexes was calculated using Delphi method,analytic hierarchy process and weight of percentile method.Results A three-level performance evaluation index system was established.First level included 3 indexes,as condition index,process index and result index,with weight of 0.3401、0.4042 and 0.2557 respectively.Meanwhile,second level and third level included 13 and 38 indexes.Conclusions The index system provide a performance evaluation tool for the innovative medical devices transforming project.

Objective:To explore the dose distribution characteristics between RapidArc and five-field intensity modulated radiotherapy(5F-IMRT) plans in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma,and to provide reference for selecting the appropriate radiation technique in clinic.Methods:Ten patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma were selected.The patients were scanned by simulation CT, and the targets and organs at risk were contoured. RapidArc plan and 5F-IMRT plan were designed respectively.The treatment time and the differences of dose distribution in the targets and organs at risk of RapidArc and 5F-IMRT plans were compared.Results:The conformal index (CI) of RapidArc plan was superior than that of 5F-IMRT plan(P=0.01).The homogeneity index (HI) of targets were similar between two plans (P>0.05).RapidArc plan decreased the maximum dose (Dmax) of the spinal cord(P=0.005);RapidArc plan decreased the mean dose(Dmean) of stomach(P=0.019);5F-IMRT plan decreased the V20 of kidney(P=0.043);RapidArc plan decreased the mean dose(Dmean) of small intestine(P=0.011).The small intestine V10 and V20 of RapidArc plan were lower than those of 5F-IMRT plan(P=0.015,P=0.14);the monitor unit (MU) of RapidArc plan was significantly lower than that of 5F-IMRT plan,with a 18% reduction from the MU level of the latter one,and the treatment time was reduced by 70.3%.RapidArc plan had the smaller doses at liver and kidney compared with 5F-IM RT plan.Conclusion:For the patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma,RapidArc plan has higher CI. RapidArc plan shows the advantages in the protection of organs.Compared with 5F-IMRT,RapidArc plan has less treatment time and significantly improves the curative efficiency.In clinic, the RapidArc plan is recommended.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the surgical techniques and 2-year follow-up results of Mast Quadrant-assisted modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).MethodsFrom September 2006 to October 2008,54 patients with single-level lumbar degeneration disease were treated by Mast Quadrantassisted modified TLIF.Under the guidance of C-arm,the Mast Quadrant's retractor was placed and the lower articular process of the upper vertebrae and 1/2-2/3 of the lamina,flavum ligament and hyperplastic cohesive part of the lower articular process were removed,the nerve roots and the central canal were decompressed.After cleaning up intervertebral disc space,bone grafting and pedicle screw fixation were achieved.Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Oswestry disability index(ODI) results,as well as the fusion rate at the last follow-up were analyzed.ResultsAll patients were treated by Mast Quadrant-assisted modified TLIF,in which 51 patients were followed up for 2 years.An average operating time was(178.7±63.2) min,and an average blood loss was (224.2±136.5) ml; an average postoperative drainage loss was (117.2±91.4) ml,and an average postoperative stay was(5.8±3.6) d.There were statistic significances between pre- and post-operative ODI and VAS scores,respectively.At last follow-up,51 patients were achieved radiographic fusion without internal fixation failure and other complications.ConclusionMast Quadrant-assisted modified TLIF had a good vision,was relatively safe and easy to be acceptable by surgeons,and which had a good clinical results for the patients with single-level lumbar degenerative disease.

Bacillus subtilis B6-1 was used as an original strain for mutagenic treatment and a defined medium was used as the selective medium. A mutant named B. subtilis W003 was isolated after three serial ultraviolet (UV) irradiations and one diethyl sulfate (DES) treatment. The ?-PGA yield on a rotary shaker was enhanced from 10.9 g/L in parental strain to 20.5 g/L in the mutant. It was illustrated by single factor experiments that the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources were glucose and (NH4)2SO4 respectively. The optimal fermentation medium was achieved by orthogonal test. In the optimal medium, a ?-PGA yield of 45.3 g/L was obtained after 36 h cultivation.