Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; therapy ; Humans ; Walking

Objective The three-dimensional reconstructed images of maximum intensity projection (MIP) for membranous labyrinth and internal auditory meatus in Chinese adults were observed and measured in order to provide anatomic basis for otolosurgery and nerosurgery. Methods Thirty inner ears of 15 volunteers were scanned by using a circular temporal coil and three-dimension fast spin echo sequence with a 1^5T GE-signal MRI scanner. All original images were transferred to MRI workstation and all the structures of inner ear were reconstructed, rotated from various angles and measured by using maximum intensity projection. All the data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 software. Results Anatomic structures of membranous labyrinth and internal auditory meatus were well demonstrated in three-dimensional reconstructed images of MIP in all volunteers. All three semicircular ducts, utricle, saccule, cochlear duct and internal auditory meatus produced high intensity signal. The results of measurement were statistically in significant.Conclusion Three-dimensional reconstruction of MlP might document, lively, stereoscopically and directly, the minute structures of membranous labyrinth and internal auditory meatus. We provide the basic data for the establishment of the MRI measurement criterion of inner ear.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the surgical treatment of multilevel lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

METHODSFrom March 2005 to September 2008, 25 cases of multilevel lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis were treated with total laminectomy, reduction of spondylolisthesis and 360 degrees circumferential fusion through interbody (PLIF), transverse process (PLF) and pedicle screw fixation. All cases were followed up for 0.5 - 4 years. The Lenke grading system was used to assess the spinal fusion and Henderson grading system was used to assess the clinical outcomes.

RESULTSComplete reduction of spondylolisthesis was achieved in all cases. The bone fusion was grade A in 23 cases, grade B in 2 cases. The clinical outcome was excellent in 16 cases, good in 6 cases and poor in 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe pathogenesis of lumbar degenerative multilevel spondylolisthesis is different from that of single-level spondylolisthesis. Complete decompression, reduction of spondylolisthesis sufficient fusion and reliable pedicle screw fixation can provide successful interbody fusion and satisfactory clinical results.It's crucial to reduce multilevel spondylolisthesis by proper techniques based on different types of listhesis.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylolisthesis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Industry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Quartz ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sonographic and computed tomography (CT) features of hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML).

METHODSSonographic and CT findings were analyzed in 12 patients (9 females and 3 males) with pathologically proved HAML. The size, margin, location, gray scale, and color Doppler flow imaging characteristics were observed.

RESULTSHAML was located correctly with ultrasound in all patients. The sonographic features of 12 HAML included regular shape, clear margin, and three type of echoes including homogeneous hyperechoes (n=5), heterogeneous internal echoes (n=5), or homogeneous hypoechoes (n=2). The arterial flow signal was detected in two HAML. The CT findings included adipose density (n=3), soft tissue density (n=3), and mixed density (n=6). The sonographic and CT findings were correlated with the composition and distribution of fat, vessels, and smooth muscle tissue.

CONCLUSIONSFatty tissues within HAML shows typical imaging findings. The ultrasonographic and CT have their own advantages in detecting the fatty tissue inside HAML, and therefore a combination of these two techniques may increase the diagnostic accuracy of HAML.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiomyolipoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

A new device that allows noninvasive measurement of venous pressure has been invented in our laboratory and tested for its feasibility and validity. The device consists of four parts: 1. the air infusion system; 2. the pressure sensor gauge; 3. signal transducer and data processing system 4. the fixing apparatus. The correlation between noninvasive pressure and invasive pressure has been studied in vitro test on a saphenous vein model and in vitro test on dog's portal venous system. In vitro and vivo study, an excellent correlation between noninvasive pressure and invasive pressure was obtained(r = 0.99, P < 0.0005; r = 0.97, P < 0.005). These data suggest that the new device allows a noninvasive measurement of venous pressure especially for the large veins such as vena cava, venae pulmonales and esophageal varices.
Animals ; Blood Pressure Determination ; instrumentation ; Dogs ; Equipment Design ; In Vitro Techniques ; Venous Pressure ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo examine the differences in the expression of HSP27 and c-kit between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic cancer (PCa) tissues and to analyse the relationship between their expression and BPH and PCa, especially the relationship with the occurrence, development, prognosis and treatment of PCa.

METHODSAn immunohistochemical staining (SP method) for HSP27 and c-kit was undertaken on 40 BPH and 40 PCa tissues samples.

RESULTSConsistent patterns of cytoplasmic staining for HSP27 were seen in all sections of tissue from BPH. The glandular epithelium stained very strongly positively and the stroma stained positively. The staining for HSP27 in PCa tissues was located in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelia, but the expression of HSP27 in PCa was higher than BPH (P < 0.05). The staining for c-kit in BPH tissues was located in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells, and in PCa tissues was located in epithelial cells. The expression of c-kit in PCa tissues was lower than BPH (P < 0.05). The expression level of both HSP27 and c-kit were decreased with the development of grade of PCa (P < 0.05); HSP27 was increased with the development of clinical stage of PCa (P < 0.05 ); c-kit was decreased with the development of clinical stage of PCa (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression level of HSP27 and c-kit was highly correlated with the process of the development from BPH to PCa, and also correlated with tumor grades and stages. The expression of HSP27 and c-kit may be used as an important pathological index and may be helpful for the treatment of PCa.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; biosynthesis

Background Keratoconus is a bilateral,noninflammatory,gradually progressive corneal disorder characterized by progressive thinning and steepening of the central cornea.It is significant to investigate keratoconusrelated pathogenic gene for elaborating the pathogenesis and establishing early diagnosis standard and taking clinical measurement.Objective The aim of the study was to explore the relationship of visual system homeobox gene (VSX1) polymorphism and the risk of sporadic keratoconus.Methods This study was approved by Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Xi' an.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to enrollment.A case-controlled study was conducted.One hundred and one Han nationality patients with sporadic keratoconus were included in this study.These keratoconus patients were clinically diagnosed by slit lamp examination and corneal tomography.Single nucleolide polymorphism (SNP) of VSX1 gene was assayed and classified using the MassARRAY SNP technique.Demography and relevant risk factors were collected from each subject by questionnaire.Eighty healthy volunteers served as controls.Chi-square test and Binary logistic regression were used to evaluate the difference in the distribution of allele frequency and genotype frequency and to analyze the association with keratoconus risks.Results SNP of two genes was found in the Chinese Han population (rs743018 (c.843+140 C＞T) and rs6138482(R217H C＞T)).There were no significant differences in the genotype frequency and allele frequency of the SNP of two genes in the keratoconus group in comparison with the normal control group (P＞0.05).After adjustment by age and sex,SNP of two genes was not significantly associated with the risk of keratoconus (regression model:rs743018 (C＞T) adjusted:P=0.35,OR=0.72,95％ CI:0.37-1.43 ;rs6138482 (C＞T) adjusted:P =0.48,OR=0.76,95％ CI:0.35-1.64).Conclusions Gene polymorphisms of rs743018(c.843+140 C＞T) and rs6138482(R217H C＞T) in the Chinese Han population is not associated with the risk of keratoconus.Due to the racial difference in genotype and allele frequency,the role of the VSX1 gene in the pathogenesis of keratoconus still remains controversial,and further study needs to be developed.

· AIM:To investigate the effects and safety of intravitreal injection of Conbercept combined with macular grid pattern photocoagulation for macular edema secondary to non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).· METHODS:A total of 38 patients (38 eyes) with macular edema following non-ischemic BRVO were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were given best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),intraocular pressure,slit lamp with preset lens,optic coherent tomography(OCT) and fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA) examination.The BCVA and central macular thickness (CMT) were observed before and 1wk,1,2,3,6,9 and 12mo after treatment.The change in pre-treatment and post-treatment were compared,and the related complications were recorded.· RESULTS:BCVA before treatment and 1wk,1,2,3,6,9 and 12mo after treatment were 0.89±0.62,0.64±0.59,0.55±0.62,0.46±0.43,0.53±0.67,0.43±0.38,0.42±0.29,0.40 ± 0.30,the difference was statistically significant between that before and after treatment (P＜0.001),while the BCVA after treatment showed no significant difference with each other (P＞ 0.05).CMT were 683.25 ± 236.47,298.65±116.12,276.89±107.28,281.55±99.62,251.41 ± 119.47,240.58±88.62,231.74±75.36,209.51±84.68pm,the difference was statistically significant between that before and after treatment (P＜ 0.001),while the those after treatment showed no significant difference with each other (P＞ 0.05).There were 11 eyes received one injection,18 eyes with two injections,2 eyes with 3,3 eyes with 4,and 4 eyes more than 4,the average injection was 2.01±1.42.The CMT decreased after every injection.The intraocular hypertension and other complications were not seen after treatment.· CONCLUSION:Intravitreal injection of conbercept combined with macular grid pattern photocoagulation for macular edema to non-ischemic BRVO can reduce the macular edema and improve BCVA,which is effective and safety.

Objective To study the distribution of chronicles in formulae and set prescriptions and its reasons ac-cording to their source information.Methods After a standard table of formulae and set prescriptions sources was es-tablished according to the data of documented formulae and set prescriptions, their similarity was sequenced by measuring the edit distance using the string similarity algorithm. After it was checked, the chronicles of formulae and set prescriptions were calculated according to their documented first publication year.Results The emergence and development of formulae and set prescriptions were related with the laws of social stability and wars. The calcu-lated chronicles of formulae and set prescriptions were reliable.Conclusion Sequencing the similarity of formulae and set prescriptions can determine their emergence time, which is thus of great significance for calculating their dosages and may become supplementary method for abstracting information from the formulae and set prescriptions in the past dynasties.