Objective To investigate the advantage of separate bolus injection technique in CT urography (CTU) improving the display of the whole urinary tract.Methods Sixty cases of CTU examination,were divided into observation group and control group by random digits table with 30 cases each,observation group used separate bolus injection technique and control group used single bolus injection technique.The scanning included routine scanning,cortical phase,medullary phase and lag phase.Reconstruction of lag phase displayed the whole urinary tract.Then the image quality was compared between two groups.Results The whole urinary tract showed excellent in 12 cases (40.0％,12/30),good in 17 cases (56.7％,17/30),normal in 1 case (3.3％,1/30) in control group,which showed excellent in 23 cases (76.7％,23/30),good in 7 cases (23.3％,7/30) in observation group,there was significant difference in excellent rate between two groups (P ＜ 0.01).The CT value of starting of ureter was (238.6 ± 82.5) HU,middle-lower ureter was (245.9 ± 112.3) HU in control group and (239.0 ± 93.8),(235.3 ± 74.6) HU in observation group,there was no significant difference between two groups (P ＞0.05).There was no difference in developing of urolithiasis between two bolus injection techniques.Conclusion The application of separate bolus injection technique in CTU examination can reduce the dose of the first contrast material and contrast material reaction,and receive high-quality image of the whole urinary tract.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and safety in patients with decompensative hepatic cirrhosis treated with Lamivudine. METHODS: Eighteen decompensative hepatic cirrhosis (B) (active phage) patients accompanied with hypeersplenism were treated with Lamivudine 100mg po. per day. The total course of treatment was 3 months to 6 months when HBVDNA became negative and HBeAg seroconversion occurred in these patients after Lamivudine treatment. The efficacy and safety in patients were evaluated as follows: HBVDNA were negative, HBeAg seroconversion occurred and hepatic cirrhosis child-stageing changed. The efficacy and safety between treated group and contrast group were compared during treatment with Lamifudine for 1 year and follow-up foe 1 year after completing treatment. RESULTS: The total efficacy of treated group was 27.7% and 71.43% respectively during the phase II trial and the safety was good in these patients. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of Lamivudine are good while it is used in non-registered adaptation of decompensative hepatic cirrhosis with hypersplenism.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Kidney Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil in treatment of decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with YMDD motif mutation during lamivudine therapy.

METHODSThe disease relapsed in 14 hepatitis B patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis during lamivudine treatment due to the YMDD motif mutation. All 14 patients had positive HVBDNA and active hepatitis, and were evaluated as Child-Pugh Score C (CPS-C). The patients were treated with lamivudine 50 mg/d and adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg/d for 6 months.

RESULTSOne patient signed off due to non-hypoxemic hyperlactacidemia; other 13 patients showed decreased serum HBVDNA. All patients had serum HBVDNA < or =10(5) copies/ml and 7 patients had HBVDNA < or =10(4) copies/ml. Six patients regained normal serum ALT level and Child-Pugh scores decreased in all patients.

CONCLUSIONAdefovir dipivoxil has satisfied efficacy and safety in treatment of decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with YMDD motif mutation during lamivudine treatment.

Adenine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Amino Acid Motifs ; genetics ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; drug therapy ; genetics ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Organophosphonates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; genetics ; Recurrence ; Reverse Transcription ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo detect serum hepatoma-specific datura stramonium lectin-tightly binding gamma-glutamyl transferase (DSA-GGT) in patients with primary hepatic cancer (PHC) by avidin-biotin ELISA method which was established in our laboratory, and carry on a study of its clinical application.

METHODSTo detect serum DSA-GGT in 45 healthy control subjects, 58 PHC patients and 203 non-PHC patients (including 36 patients with other tumors and 167 patients with benign liver diseases) with the method was established; meanwhile, AFP was detected by ELISA method.

RESULTS38 individuals were DSA-GGT positive in 58 PHC patients, the sensitivity was 65.5%. 18 individuals were DSA-GGT positive in 203 patients without PHC, the specificity was 91.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of AFP in diagnosis of PHC patients was 69.0% and 90.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of combination of DSA-GGT and AFP was 93.1% and 85.7%, respectively. The average intra-CV and inter-CV of DSA-GGT ELISA was 8.9% and 11.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe sensitivity and specificity of DSA-GGT ELISA method established in our lab is similar with that of AFP assay and the accuracy is good. Combination of DSA-GGT and AFP may improve the diagnostic sensitivity. The method should be potentially as a new way to improve diagnosis of PHC.

Adult ; Avidin ; Biotin ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interaction between p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/IkappaB system on the proinflammatory cytokines release after burn trauma.

METHODSHuman monocyte line THP-1 were incubated with serum from eight healthy controls, burn sera, burn sera pretreatment with SB203580, and burn sera pretreatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). After 24 hours incubation with serum, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels in THP-1 culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. The activities of p38 MAPK and expressions of IkappaBalpha in THP-1 were measured by Western blot analysis. The EMSA method was used to characterize the binding activities of NF-kappaB and activating protein (AP)-1 in THP-1.

RESULTSIn comparison with normal controls, burn sera resulted in a significant higher level release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in THP-1 [(7.30 +/- 0.84) ng/ml vs (2.20 +/- 0.28) ng/ml, P < 0.05; (2.88 +/- 0.38) ng/ml vs (0.81 +/- 0.14) ng/ml, P < 0.05], which were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with SB203580 or PDTC. Burn sera showed increased activities of p38 MAPK and AP-1 in THP-1 (4728 +/- 582 vs 1291 +/- 163, P < 0.05; 946 +/- 137 vs 361 +/- 40, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with SB203580 but not PDTC. The expression of IkappaBalpha in THP-1 incubated with burn sera was significantly decreased than those incubated with control sera (1211 +/- 115 vs 2658 +/- 318, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with PDTC but not SB203580. Burn sera also leaded to an increased activity of NF-kappaB in THP-1 (1636 +/- 170 vs 317 +/- 32, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with PDTC but not SB203580.

CONCLUSIONSThere are no direct interaction between p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway and NF-kappaB/IkappaB pathway. These two pathways, which regulate the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in monocyte following burn trauma, are parallel and independent.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; physiology ; Immune Sera ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; physiology ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology

ObJective To study the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function with dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in inpatients with unipolar depression or bipolar disorder at different mood states. Methods DST was performed in 38 inpatients with unipolar depression and 63 with bipolar disorder ([19 with type Ⅰ, 44 with type Ⅱ], [33 with depressive episode, 18 with manic episode and 12 with combined episodes]). After 4 weeks' treatment, DST was performed again on 17 patients with unipolar depression and 35 with bipolar disorder to compare the negative suppression ratio. Results Before treatment, the negative suppression rate of DST was significantly different between unipolar depression (36.8%) and bipolar disorder (14.3%), type Ⅰ bipolar disorder (10.5%), type Ⅱ bipolar disorder (15.9%) or bipolar disorder with current depressive episode (15.2%) (P<0.05). However, no statistic differences were showed among type Ⅰ bipolar disorder and type Ⅱ bipolar disorder, depressive episode of bipolar disorder (15.2%), manic episode of bipolar disorder (16.7%) or combined episodes of bipolar disorder (11.1%) (P>0.05). After treatment, the same comparison was performed, but negative suppression rate of DST was not significantly different among all the groups (P>0.05). With the clinical improvement, negative suppression rate of DST decreased in patients with unipolar disorder;while no significant differences were found between pre-treatment and post-treatment in patients with both unipolar and bipolar disorders (P>0.05). Conclusion At the status of illness, the negative suppression rate of DST in the unipolar depression, being independent from the clinical subtypes, types of episode and severity of the illness in bipolar disorder, is much higher than that in the bipolar disorder.

Objective To explore the relationship between the course of disease and glycolipid metabolic parameters in drug-naive schizophrenia patients. Methods All 186 drug-naive schizophrenia patients,admired to our hospital from March 2010 to October 2011,were chosen in our study; relative glycolipid metabolic parameters at baseline were tested and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was performed on these patients; and the relationships between relative glycolipid metabolic indexes and both the course of disease and manipulated variable (age,gender,education level and severity of the disease) were assessed.Results Gender might play a significant role to some glycolipid metabolic parameters (waist-hip ratio [WHR]:β=0.364; high-density lipoprotein [HDL]:β=-0.248; triacyiglycerol [TG]:β=0.167 and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA):β=-0.198,P＜0.05); age might play an important role to some glycolipid metabolic parameters (body mass index [BMI]: β=0.213; WHR: β=0.286 and apolipoprotein B 100 [apoB100]:β=0.221,P＜0.05).Simultaneously,the severity of disease appeared to affect some glycolipid metabolic parameters (BMI:β-0.167; WHR:β=-0.150 and fasting blood-glucose [FBG]:β=0.172, P＜0.05). The course of disease hardly affected the majorities of relative glycolipid metabolic indices of drug-naive schizophrenia but LPa (β=0.173, P＜0.05). Conclusion The high metabolic abnormality incidence in schizophrenia patients maybe result from multi-factor interactions.

OBJECTIVETo assess and explore the quality of life and related factors among 291 outpatient adults with epilepsy.

METHODSFrom July, 2005 to July, 2006, eligible outpatient epilepsy in a hospital was evaluated by the scale on quality of life in epilepsy-31 (Chinese version).

RESULTSThe total scores of quality of life was low (56.46 +/- 16.58). The scores of quality of life in each item were as follows: seizure worry (45.01 +/- 25.25); overall quality of life (56. 12 +/- 16.37); emotional well-being (59.35 +/- 19.56); cognitive function (58.58 +/- 22.41); energy/fatigue (59.12 +/- 18.98); medication effects (40.45 +/- 24.44) and social function (53.00 +/- 26.36). The quality of life of patients with different education background, drug intake and side effects was different significantly (P < 0.05). Data on Multi-linear regression showed that education background, side effects would affect the quality of life.

CONCLUSIONThe quality of life of outpatient adults with epilepsy was low with education background, while side effects and drugs intake might serve as important factors affecting the quality of life with epilepsy.

Adult ; Anticonvulsants ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEThe primary submucous type of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) or the recurrent NPC in the parapharyngeal space is difficult to be diagnosed histologically by conventional biopsy because of the obstruction of the surrounding structures. This study was performed to evaluate the needle biopsy approach through the madibular area into the parapharyngeal space under the guidance of computed tomography (CT) for NPC.

METHODSBetween July 6, 2005 and October 23, 2009, a total of 6 patients were enrolled into the study. Two patients with cervical lymph node metastasis were clinically suspicious of NPC according to their clinical manifestations. However, no cancer cell could be found by repeated nasopharyngeal biopsies followed by histologic examinations. The other 4 patients were diagnosed with recurrent NPCs by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or/and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scan, showing tumors in the parapharyngeal spaces in 3 patients and enlarged retropharyngeal lymph node in 1 patient. The CT-guided puncture was performed through the mandibular skin and the cutting needle biopsy was taken at the parapharyngeal space focus.

RESULTSAll the cutting needle biopsies of projected locations have been performed safely. Finally, all the 7 specimens met the requirement of pathologic diagnosis and the cases were all confirmed histologically to be NPCs. The main complication was mild ache at the puncture point. No blood vessel or nerve was injured and no patient needed special treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe CT-guided puncture biopsy of the parapharyngeal space through the mandibular area is simple and feasible. It can be an additional option for routine nasopharyngeal biopsy.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mandible ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pharynx ; pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed