Objective To compare the reproducibility and reliability of facial soft tissue landmarks using a direct and an indirect placement methods in facial three-dimensional (3D) soft tissue assessment.Methods 3D coordinates of 37 soft tissue landmarks were obtained respectively in 35 normal healthy volunteers from 3D optical capture system and Materialise's interactive medical image control system (Mimics).Landmarks were affixed on the cutaneous surface (direct method) and marked on the 3D reconstructed craniofacial model (indirect method).Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and paired t-tests were used to compare the reliability and reproducibility of facial landmarks between two placement methods.Results For the direct placement method,86.5 ％ landmarks had an ICC higher than 0.75.For the indirect placement method,75.7％ landmarks had an ICC higher than 0.75.The inter-observer variability using the direct placement method was (1.259±0.566) mm,which was significantly smaller (P＜0.05) than (1.420±0.638) mm obtained by the indirect placement method.Conclusions Compared with indirect method,direct method has higher reliability and reproducibility in evaluating facial soft tissue.

Objective To study the clinical characteristics and outcome of cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection in infants.Methods All data including time of infection,clinical characteristics,laboratory tests and outcome of CMV infections in hospitalized infants were collec-(ted) and analyzed from January,1994 to July,2004.Results In 87 infected infants,congenitally infected newborns,perinatal infection in infants and postnatal infection in infants accounted for 27.6%,62.0%,16.6%,respectively.CMV hepatitis was the most frequent type of disease with the incidence of 41.3%,in which the incidence of splenomegaly was 10.3%.Most of CMV hepatitis infants had a good prognosis with the improved rate 80.5%.Central nervous system abnormality(including abnormal intension of muscle,convulsion,ocular and hearing abnormalities) occurred only in congenital and perinatal infection with the incidence of 20.4%.Generalized infection,the incidence of congenital infection and perinatal infection was 16.7%,1.8%,respectively.It did not occur in postnatal infection.The mortality rate of congenital infection and perinatal infection were 12.5% and 1.85%,respectively.Conclusions CMV infection is the main cause of infant hepatitis and it can also cause neurologic sequelae.The outcome of generalized infection in congenital infection is bad and the mortality rate is high.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value of postmortem multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in cases of fall from height through observing and analyzing the injury features of the fall and reconstructing the process of the fall based on the the above procedure. METHODS: One real fatal case due to fall from height was fully examined using MSCT and three-dimensional reconstruction technique. Analyzing the manner and cause of death through combination of MSCT and systemic autopsy was also implemented. The differences between autopsy and MSCT in getting information of injuries were compared. RESULTS: Fractures involving multiple body regions and liver rupture were found through MSCT and three-dimensional reconstruction. The autopsy got the same results with imageological examination. The case of death was deduced to be fall leading to systemic polytrauma. CONCLUSION Application of MSCT can be used as the complimentary for traditional autopsy in the analysis of injury manner of fall from height.
Autopsy ; Death ; Forensic Pathology ; Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Multiple Trauma ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

Cadherins ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between Chinese medical constitutions and chemotherapy-induced leucopenia (CIL) of primary breast cancer patients.

METHODSTotally 306 breast cancer patients undergoing adjunctive chemotherapy for the 1st time, and effective 291 breast cancer patients were recruited in this study.Nine Basic Constitutional Scale was used before first chemotherapy. Chinese medical constitutions were classified and quantitatively scored. The highest grading for any item of adverse reactions in each case during the whole chemotherapy course was recorded after chemotherapy. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS16.0.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in CIL between different chemotherapy regimens and various Chinese medical constitutions of breast cancer patients (P > 0.05). Yang deficiency constitution is one risk factor for CIL. The higher the score of yang deficiency constitution, the more severe the CIL.

CONCLUSIONSYang deficiency constitution was correlated with the degree of CIL. The higher the score of yang deficiency constitution, the greater the risk of III-IV grade CIL in breast cancer patients.

Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yang Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical effect of integrated Chinese medical (CM) treatment (as maintenance therapy) on the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after first-line chemotherapy.

METHODSThe study was a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Totally 69 non-progressive advanced NSCLC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy were randomly assigned to the test group (34 cases) and the control group (35 cases). Patients in the control group were treated with one Western drug chemotherapy (Gemcitabine or Alimta or docetaxel). Those in the test group were treated with integrated CM treatment (CM decoction, CM Intravenous preparation, and point application). Each cycle consisted of 21 days. Treatment lasted till the disease progressed, or intolerable toxic/adverse reactions occurred, or patients refused to continue the treatment. Patients' life spans were regularly followed-up.

RESULTS(1) The median cycle of maintenance therapy was 2 cycles for two groups with no statistical difference (P =0.274). The median PFS was 12.43 weeks in the test group and 10.00 weeks in the control group, showing statistical difference (P =0.025). The middle survival time (MST) was 18.8 months in the test group and 16.73 months in the control group, showing no statistical difference (P =0.437).

CONCLUSIONCM treatment (as maintenance therapy) showed quail effect to one Western drug chemotherapy in prolonging patients' life span.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pemetrexed ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use

Clinical trial protocol is the document that illustrates the background of a clinical trial, theoretic basis, objective, design, methods, and organization, as well as statistical calculating, implement, and conditions for completion. Clinical trial protocol is the basic measure for ensuring the validity of scientific results and reducing bias. In order to optimize the design of clinical trial protocol, we generalize main problems in Chinese medicine clinical trials, key points of clinical trial protocol, as well as report standards.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research Design ; standards

Objective To prospectively evaluate the value of US,MSCT,EUS and MRI in the quantitative evaluation of the extent of pancreaticobiliary duct obstruction in pancreatic cancer.Methods Consecutive 68 patients with pancreatic carcinoma underwent US,MSCT,EUS and MRI before surgery.The diameter of extrahepatic bile duct and pancreatic duet were measured,and correlation analysis was performed with surgical specimens.Results Diameters of extrahepatic bile duct scaled by US.MSCT,EUS and MRI were(16.60±6.33)mm,(18.90±6.74)mm,(18.80±5.88)nun and(17.26±4.83)mm,and diameter measured from surgical specimens was(18.39±6.05)mm;the correlation among the four imaging examinations and the surgical evaluation were r=0.3839,P=0.1055;r=0.7113,P=0.0011; r=0.3759,P=0.0465;r=0.3376,P=0.2872,respectively. Kappa Values were 0.6285,0.7115,0.6661 and 0.7490,respectively.The diameter of pancreatic duct was(15.90±3.41)mm,(6.83 4-3.70)mm,(6.77±3.22)mm and(5.58±2.65)mm,and diameter measured from surgical specimens was(5.97±2.60)mm,the correlation among the four imaging examinations and the surgical evaluation were r=0.3584,P=0.2895;r=0.6148,P＜0.0001; r=0.7373,P＜0.0001;r=1.0746,P＜0.0001.Kappa values were 4.159,9.094,9.001 and 4.050.All of these parameters were in coherence with surgical findings.Condusions US could be used as the initial method in the assessment of extrahepatic and pancreatic duct obstruction.MRI and MSCT,combined with EUS if necessary,could be used to quantitatively evaluate the extent of pancreaticobiliary obstruction.

Objective: To analyze the relevant literature regarding the effect of tuina on postpartum milk secretion and thus summarize the clinical rules on tuina for lactation disorder. Method: Investigate the relationship between tuina and postpartum milk secretion for four aspects, including the initial time of lactation, level of serum prolactin, volume of lactation, and Chinese medicine's understanding of tuina on milk secretion. Result and Conclusion: Tuina on breasts after childbirth can speed and promote lactation. This has been proved by clinical practice over the past hundreds of years, along with modern laboratory and scientific research. This method, therefore, is of great significance in obstetrical nursing.

To improve 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase(KSDH) activity and the transformation level for androst-4-ene-3,17-dione, 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase gene(ksdD) from Arthrobacter simplex was cloned into plasmid pWB980 and expressed in B. subtilis WB600 under the control of promoter P43. The molecular weight of expressed enzyme was about 55kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. The activitities assayed by spectrophotometrical method of intracellular and extracellular soluble enzyme were 110?0.5mU and 15?0.6mU per milligram of protein respectively. The transformation rate of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was 45.3%. Compared with Arthrobacter simplex, the enzyme activity of KSDH expressed in B. subtilis was improved about 30 fold, and the transformation level of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was improved about 10 fold. The recombinant B. subtilis cells used in biotransformation of steroids provided a new way for steroid medicines production.