Objective To explore the methods and clinical value of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in detecting rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) with head scanning probe.Methods A total of 12 patients had the ultrasonic examination through the rectum with the head scanning probe.Preoperative ultrasonic findings were compared with the pathological results.Results Of the 12 patients,the patients were divided into three groups,including 3 cases with low-degree severity,6 cases with moderate-degree severity and 6 cases with high-degree severity.The lymph node metastasis was not found near intestines.Rectal GIST appeared as a hypoechoic mass with clear limit、regular form and expanded growth under TRUS.The CDFI showed abundant flow in the tumor and TRUS had an overall accuracy rate of 75.0%(9/12)in the diagnosis of rectal GIST.The accuracy of TRUS in the staging diagnosis of rectal GIST was 83.3%(10/12).Conclusion The TRUS with the head scanning probe is of great value for pre-operative diagnosis and staging of rectal GIST.Rectal water window and felicitous check-up technique can enhance the accuracy of TRUS.

Objective:To observe the effects of moxibustion pretreatment on Glutathione Peroxidase(GSH-Px),Superoxide Dismutase(SOD),and Malondialchehyche(MDA)in gastric mucosa of rats with stress ulcer,and to investigate the mechanism of moxibustion pretreatment preventing the oxidized injury of gastric mucosa.Methods:Forty-eight healthy SD rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups,namely control group,model group,acupoint moxibustion group,and non-acupoint moxibustion group.The ulcer model was developed by restraint and water immersion stress,Ulcer index(UI)was calculated with Guth method,and the contents of GSH-Px,and MDA and SOD activity in the gastric tissues were measured with chromatometry method.Results:Compared those in the model group and nonacupoint moxibustion group,moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36)could decrease the UI(P<0.01)and MDA(P<0.05)contents,and increase the activity of GSH-Px(P<0.01)and SOD(P<0.05).Conclusion:Pretreatment of moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36)could promote the recovery of gastric injury in rats induced by restraint and water immersion stress by enhancing the activity of GSH-Px and SOD,and lower MDA content.

Objective Through observing the clinical effect and the changes of gastrointestinal hormones caused by the treatment of different moxibustion time of the superficial gastritis patients due to the spleen and stomach weakness,to investigate the regulation of the dose-effect relation and the adjustment function on gastrointestinal hormone of serum of patients caused by the warming and nourish effect with moxibustion.Methods Eighty-four superficial gastritis Patients due to the spleen and stomach weakness were divided into group 1(treated by warming moxibustion for twenty minutes)(n=28),group 2(treated by warming moxibustion for forty minutes)(n=28),and drug(n=28)groups.The changes of the content of the Prostaglandin E2(PGE2)、Somatostatin(SS)and Epidermal growth factor(EGF)were observed before and after treatment between 3 groups and the clinical effect in different time.Results ①All 3 groups were compared after treatment,their clinical effect had no significant difference(P＞0.05):②Compared with pre-treatment,the superficial gastritis symptom score had a very significant difference after the treatment(3.07±1.54)、(3.11±1.40)、(3.79±2.25)and during the 1 month follow-up(2.25±1.32)、(2.57±1.10)、(4.11±2.48),(P＜0.01);③After treatment,the content of the PGE2 of the serum was increased obviously,compared with pre-treatment.There was a significant difference in each group(33.751±1.267)pg/ml、(33.774±8.583)pg/ml、(32.583±8.259)pg/ml,(P＜0.05);After warming moxibustion for forty minutes,the content of the EGF of the serum was increased obviously,compared with pre-treatment,showing a significant difference(1.331±0.823)pg/ml,(P＜0.05).Conclusion ①All of the three treatment methods had significant curative effect,and the curative effect had no significant difference among these 3 groups.But the moxibustion groups were markedly higher than the drug group in long-term result;②The moxibustion had established adjustment function on gastrointestinal hormone of the superficial gastritis patients due to the spleen and stomach weakness,which suggested that the gastrointestinal hormone may participate in its onset and the process of pathology and physiology.

Objective To study the clinical value of color Doppler ultrasonography in typing tuberculous epididymitis.Methods The appearances of color Doppler ultrasound and the findings on operation were analysed in 33 patients with tuberculous epididymitis.Results Of the 33 patients,epididymis appeared as diffusely and heterogeneously enlarged lesions with increased flow in 2 cases,appeared as nodular lesions in 13 cases including nodi with echofree space in 3 cases, nodi with high-level echo patches in 3 cases, and low echo-level nodi in 7 cases. Multiple lesions in scrotum were detected in 17 cases, of whom epididymis up to 11 cases appeared as diffusely enlarged heterogeneous lesions with flow increased.The sonographic appearancs of tuberculous epididymitis could be divided into 3 types:diffusion type, nodus type and complicated type. Nodus type included 3 subtypes: purulence type, calcification type, and cheese type.The accuracy rate of ultrsound diagnosis was 87.9%.Conclusions Testis is easy to be involved when epididymitis appears as diffusion type, so surgical treatments should be early.Purulence type and complicated type need surgical treatments while calcification type does not. Antituberculous drug treatments can be tried before surgical treatments in cheese type.Sonography of urinary system is helpful for the diagnosis of asymptomatic tuberculosis in urinary system when tuberculous epididymitis is first suspected on sonography.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of cone-bean CT (CBCT) on the measurement of the tooth length.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty single root premolars extracted for orthodontic purposes were selected. The tooth length was measured with vernier caliper. The premolars were divided into 10 groups randomly, 16 premolars in each group.In each group, the teeth were lined in molar area, premolar area, canine area and anterior tooth area in maxilla and mandible. Then CBCT was taken, and the tooth length was measured using the software supplied by the manufacturer in coronal and sagittal plane. Accuracy was compared between vernier caliper measurement and CBCT measurement.

RESULTSThe tooth length measured by CBCT was smaller than that measured with the vernier caliper. Significant differences were found in six areas, except the maxillary and mandibular premolar areas. With the increase of mesial-distal inclination or buccolingual torque angle, the difference between tooth length measured by CBCT and that measured with vernier caliper increased. The correlation between buccolingual torque angle (∠X1) and the coronal view of CBCT radiology tooth length (Spearmen index was 7.00, P < 0.001), and the correlation between mesial-distal inclination and the coronal view of CBCT radiology tooth length (Spearmen index was 0.624, P < 0.001) were found.

CONCLUSIONSThe tooth length measured by CBCT was smaller than that measured with vernier caliper.

Adult ; Bicuspid ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Mandible ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Maxilla ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Odontometry ; methods ; Radiography, Dental ; Random Allocation ; Tooth ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo compare the impact of unilateral acute testicular ischemia on the hemodynamics and histology of the contralateral testis of the rabbits under consistent anesthesia with that of the rabbits in the conscious state.

METHODSForty-two healthy male white rabbits were randomly divided into an anesthetic group (Group A) to receive injection of sodium pentobarbital (PS) and a non-anesthetic group (Group B), each including a control group of 5 animals (A0 and B0), an incomplete testicular ischemia group of 8 (A1 and B1), and a complete testicular ischemia group of 8 (A2 and B2). Testicular ischemia models were constructed by color Doppler ultrasonography. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was used to observe the perfusion of the contralateral testes before and after ligating and loosening the unilateral spermatic cord in each experimental group. The control animals also underwent CEUS and measurement of the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) at the corresponding time. Histological structure changes in the contralateral testes of the rabbits were observed in both anesthetic and conscious states.

RESULTSPS anesthesia markedly suppressed the HR and BP of the rabbits. The parameters in Groups of A0, A1 and A2 showed no statistically significant changes after unilateral ligation of the spermatic cord, while Groups B1 and B2 displayed significantly decreased peak-base difference (PBD) and prolonged arrival time (AT) and half time of descending peak intensity (HT). Groups A1, B1 and B2 showed significantly increased PBD and prolonged HT shortly after loosening the spermatic cord. Focal pathological and ultrastructural changes were observed in the contralateral testes of the ischemic rabbits, but no significant difference was found in Johnson's score in comparison with the controls. The apoptotic cells were remarkably increased in Groups A1, B1 and B2.

CONCLUSIONAcute testicular ischemia may induce injury to the contralateral testis to some degree, and a reflexive sympathetic response may cause hemodynamic changes in the non-anesthetic state. And the neural and vascular inhibitory effects of anesthesia could make insignificant changes of blood perfusion in the contralateral testis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Testicular Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Testis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo discuss the correlation of ultrasonographic grading of varicocele (VC) with the changes of seminal parameters after varicocelectomy.

METHODSA total of 129 cases of VC were diagnosed by scrotal color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) and graded into 3 groups: VC I, VC II and VC III, according to three different grading indexes: the regurgitant volume of pampiniform plexus veins (PPV), the maximum diameter of PPV and the combination of the regurgitant volume and the maximum diameter of PPV. All the patients underwent high ligation of the spermatic vein and semen analysis was performed before and after varicocelectomy according to the WHO guidelines.

RESULTSWith the maximum diameter of PPV as the grading index, there were statistically significant differences in the seminal parameters of VC III (P < 0.05) but not in those of VC I and VC II (P > 0.05) before and after varicocelectomy, while based on the regurgitant volume of PPV or the combination of the regurgitant volume and the maximum diameter of PPV, the differences were insignificant in VC I (P > 0.05), significant in VC II (P < 0.05) and extremely significant in VC III (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found in the rate of sperm abnormality among the 3 groups after varicocelectomy (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDifferent grading indexes influence the changes of seminal parameters after varicocelectomy. The regurgitant volume of PPV and the combination of the regurgitant volume and the maximum diameter of PPV are more reasonable and reliable as the grading indexes of VC. Different grades of VC respond differently to varicocelectomy. Whether VC I necessitates varicocelectomy needs to be further investigated.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; cytology ; physiology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods ; Varicocele ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDUric acid (UA) is suspected to play a neuro-protective role in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to evaluate whether the serum UA level was associated with the disease progression of PD in a relatively large population of Chinese patients.

METHODSSerum UA levels were measured from 411 Chinese PD patients and 396 age-matched controls; following the uric acid colorimetric method, the serum creatinine (Scr) levels were also measured to reduce the bias caused by possible differences in renal excretion function. The disease progression was scored by Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scales and disease durations; PD group was divided into 3 subgroups according to H&Y scales. Independent-samples t test was performed to analyze the differences between PD group and control group. Multiple analysis of covariance was performed to analyze the differences between PD subgroups. Spearman rank-correlation was performed to evaluate the associations between serum UA or Scr level and disease progression.

RESULTSPD patients were found to have significantly lower levels of serum UA than controls ((243.38 ± 78.91) vs. (282.97 ± 90.80) µmol/L, P < 0.01). As the disease progression, the serum UA levels were gradually reduced. There was a significantly inverse correlation of UA levels with H&Y scales (Rs = -0.429, P < 0.01) and disease duration (Rs = -0.284, P < 0.01) in PD patients of both females and males. No significant difference of the Scr level between PD patients and controls was found ((70.01 ± 14.70) vs. (69.84 ± 16.46) µmol/L), and the Scr level was not involved in disease progression.

CONCLUSIONLower serum UA levels may possess a higher risk of PD, which may be a potential useful biomarker to indicate the progression of PD.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; blood ; pathology ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study clinical features and gene mutations in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), a rare autosomal recessive disease, in children.

METHODClinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, image studies, and genetic testing of two cases with SDS were presented, analyzed, and discussed; 311 SDS cases from the related literature since 2004 were reviewed.

RESULT(1) The two cases both presented with characteristic exocrine pancreatic insufficiency evidenced by abnormal pancreas on imaging and growth retardation, persistent or intermittent neutropenia (<1500×10(6)/L) and/or anemia, and skeletal abnormalities. Analysis of the SBDS gene revealed the same compound heterozygous genotype (c.183_184TA > CT, c.258+2T > C) for both subjects. This genotype is the result of the inheritance of abnormal alleles from both healthy parents. (2) Among 311 cases, 75 cases having complete clinical data were characterized by exocrine pancreatic dysfunction (61/75; 81.3%), hematologic abnormalities with single- or multi-lineage cytopenia (64/75; 85.3%), and bone abnormalities (47/75; 62.7%). c.183_184TA > CT, c.258+2T > C, and c. [ 183_184TA > CT; 258+2T > C] are the major types of SBDS gene mutation(85/138;61.6%).

CONCLUSIONSDS is characterized by exocrine pancreatic dysfunction with malabsorption, malnutrition, and growth failure; hematologic abnormalities with single- or multi-lineage cytopenia, and bone abnormalities. The diagnosis of SDS relies on a combination of clinical features and gene-based tests. The SDS patients need long term follow-up and management.

Bone Marrow Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Exons ; Genes, Recessive ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Lipomatosis ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Neutropenia ; Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare the medium- and long-term effect of pneumatic ballistic extracorporeal shock wave versus ultrasound-guided hormone injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

METHODSThe clinical data were collected from patients with plantar fasciitis admitted to PLA General Hospital pain department from September, 2015 to February, 2017. The patients were randomly divided into ultrasound-guided drug injection group and shock wave group. The therapeutic parameters including the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores in the first step pain in the morning, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle Hindfoot Scale, and thickness of the plantar fascia were monitored before and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the treatment. The recurrence rate, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups at 6 months after the treatment.

RESULTSThirty-nine patients were enrolled in shock wave group and 38 patients in ultrasound group. The NRS scores in the first step pain in the morning were lowered after treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the scores were significantly lower in ultrasound group than in shock wave group at 1 week and 1 month (P<0.01), but significantly higher in ultrasound group than in shock wave group at 3 and 6 months after treatment (P<0.05). The AOFAS functional scores were increased in both groups (P<0.05) at 6 months after treatment, was significantly lower in ultrasound group than in shock wave group than group B (90.44∓13.27 vs 75.76∓21.40; P<0.05). The effective rates in shock wave group and ultrasound group were 92.31% and 76.32%, respectively (P<0.05). Recurrence was found in 1 patient (2.56%) in shock wave group and in 8 (21.05%) in ultrasound group (P<0.05). The patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher in shock wave group than in ultrasound group (8.13∓2.67 vs 6.63∓3.75, P=0.048).

CONCLUSIONPneumatic ballistic extracorporeal shock achieves better medium- and long-term outcomes than ultrasound-guided hormone injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.