Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the MRI findings and its diagnostic value in gluteal muscle contracture (GMC). Methods Eleven clinic or operation confirmed GMC patients were examined by plain X-ray and MRI. Conventional T 1WI and T 2WI MR imaging were performed and FFE-T 2WI (fast field echo-T 2WI) was also scanned. CT scan was conducted in 5 cases. Results 11 GMC patients were all diagnosed by MRI. Conventional T 1WI and T 2WI could only show the atrophy of gluteal muscles, while FFE-T 2WI could directly show the fibrous band of gluteal muscle and its fascia, and the fibrous band appeared as low signal intensity on FFE-T 2WI sequence. Conclusions MRI is the efficient modality in imaging the fibrous band for GMC patients, and FFE-T 2WI is the most valuable sequence. MRI is very helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of GMC.

Objective To evaluate the appearances of osteochondral fracture of the knee on X-ray and MR imaging. Methods Twelve patients with knee acute injury were examined with X-ray and MRI. The findings of MRI and X-ray were analyzed and reviewed, and the results of each patient were confirmed by arthroscopy and operation. Results Thirteen areas of osteochondral fracture including 9 loose bodies in 12 patients were diagnosed by MRI. Seven locations were found by MRI in the distal lateral femoral condyle, and 6 in patellar. MRI could clearly show the location, the size, and the depth of each osteochondral fracture, and MRI could also differentiate the articular cartilage and the subchondral of the loose body. T 2WI, STIR, and FFE-T 2WI were the best sequences to demonstrate the osteochondral fracture. X-ray showed 5 loose bodies in the knee joint, but could not detect where they came from. Conclusion MRI can accurately reveal and diagnose the osteochondral fracture of knee after trauma, which improves the diagnostic certainty and is very helpful for arthroscopy and operation. X-ray is still the initial modality in detecting the osteochondral fracture of knee and should be combined with MRI to confirm the diagnosis.

Objective To evaluate the effect of modified bowel preparation-Polyethylene Glycol Electrolytes Powder (SF-PEG, Shu Taiqing) in combination with magnesium sulfate in patients with constipation undergoing colonoscopy. Methods Sixty cases from mild to moderate constipation were randomly divided into two groups:Group A: SF-PEG (438.4 g, 4 L), 30 cases; Group B: received low-dose SF-PEG (219.2 g, 2 L) and 50.00%magnesium sulfate 50 ml, and then 250 ml water, 30 cases. Boston Bowel Preparation Scale scores (BBPS) and bubbles in bowel lumen score were assessed by the same endoscopist blindly to the preparation regimen, and the time of colonoscopy and the tolerability was recorded. Results All patients underwent completely the bowel preparation and colonoscopy. The time of colonoscopy of group B was shorter than that of group A (P < 0.05). The BBPS score of group B was higher than that of group A (P < 0.05). The bubbles in bowel lumen were less in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.05). The willingness to retake in Group B were superior to those in Group A (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in score of total adverse effects and taste score between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion SF-PEG in combination with magnesium sulfate in patients with constipation for colonoscopy can improve tolerance to bowel preparation, cleanliness and effects of examination. It's safe to be recommended in clinical practice.

Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; pathology ; Pituitary Gland ; pathology

Positive linear correlation was found between TSH level and detection rate of congenital hypothyroidism (CH). When measured with a cut-off point at 9, 10, 15 and 20 mU/L of TSH, the sensitivity of positive detection rate for CH was 99.77%, 96.80%, 81.25% and 71.88%, respectively. TSH > 9 mU/L seems to be a reasonable cut-off value.

Objective To evaluate the value of MRI in diagnosing pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS). Methods MRI appearance of 23 pathologically proven cases of PVNS was analyzed. Results In 23 patients with PVNS, 9 cases occurred in knee joint, 9 cases in hip, 3 cases in ankle, 1 in elbow, and 1 in wrist. X ray of the 23 patients could only show the joint effusion, and bony erosion was found in 19 cases. CT scan showed joint effusion and bony erosion more clearly than X ray in 4 cases. The typical MRI appearance included intra articular joint effusion and extensive synovial proliferation which led to progressive destruction of cartilage and bone. The pigmented villonodules showed nodular low signal on both T 1WI and T 2WI, especially in FFE/T 2WI. Conclusion MRI is the most effective modality in the diagnosis of PVNS.

BACKGROUND: Independent urination and defection functions do not exist in patients with paraplegia above T12 because the injury disrupts the connection to the brain.OBJECTIVE: To reconstruct urination and defecation functions in patients with paraplegia with vascularized intercostal nerve transfer to sacral nerve roots with selected interfascicular anastomosis.DESIGN: Self-control observation.SETFING: Department of Orthopedics, Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: We recruited 30 patients with traumatic paraplegia at T9-L2 who received treatment in the Department of Orthopedics,Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, from January 1990 to December 2000. Paraplegia plane at T9-T11was found in 17 cases and paraplegia plane at T12-L2 in 13 cases. All the cases had undergone vertebral lamina decompression and internal fixation, 24 of whom had an additional operation to remove the internal fixation.METHODS: Two normal vascularized intercoastal nerves and artery and vein (intercostals nerves were generally at ribs 7 and 8 or 9 and10)above the spinal cord injury site were harvested by cutting in at their distal ends at the midclavicular line and separating the proximal ends from the levatores costarum. The nerves were then transferred to the vertebral canal through a submuscular tunnel. A sural nerve segment that had been harvested and sheared into two segments was sutured to the intercostal nerves by epiperineurial neurorrhaphy and then to the S2-4nerve roots by interfascicular neurorrhaphy. For patients with spinal injury plane below T11, intercostal nerve or subcostal nerve among the 10th and 11th ribs were harvested from the incision of abnormal wall. The nerves were transferred to the lumbar part through the channel of lateral abdominal wall. The transplanted sural nerve was conrected to S2-4 nerve root of partial nerve tract cut alternatively and exposed from S1,2 plane posterior. Defecation function of the patients was evaluated at postoperative 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months and follow-up; urodynamic examination was performed before and after operation.patients.RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were followed up for 5 years on average,tion and defecation functions of the patients: 26 (86.6%) had recovered defecation and urination sensation, 23 (76.7%)regained the micturition reflex and uriesthesis; 19 (63%) had recovered function of the detrusor The postoperative maximum urine flow ratio, surplus urine volume, and the maximum systolic pressure of detrusor muscle were obviously improved as compared with those before operation [(12.0±3.0) vs (2.0±0.3) mL/s,(80±12) vs (150±30) mL, (11.76±3.43) vs (5.88±1.47) kPa, P ＜ 0.05]. Postoperative low compliance was found in 9 cases, and detrusor areflexia in 7cases. The number was both significantly decreased as compared with that of preoperative cases (26 and 27 respectively).CONCLUSION: Transfer of vascularized intercostal nerve to S2-4 nerve roots with selected interfascicular anastomosis can reconstruct partial urination and defecation functions, and sensation in buttock, perineal region and cunnus region in paraplegia.

Objective To determine the influence of serum complement and IgG on rituximabdependent NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity to Raji cells in vitro.Methods FcγR Ⅲ a (CD16a) polymorphism of NK cells were detected by nest-PCR. Effects of serum IgG on FcγRⅢ a expression of NK cells in vitro were analyzed by flow cytometry.The target cells(Raji cells) were stained with DIO,cultured with effector cells(NK cells) and rituximab with or without serum IgG/complement,and finally stained with propidium iodide (PI),then these cells were tested by flow cytometry and the cytotoxic index was calculated as well. Results The cytotoxic indexes of the ADCC +CDC groups were higher than those of ADCC groups, but the serum IgG groups were lower than the ADCC groups. In FcγRⅢa-158Ⅴ/Ⅴ groups, the cytotoxic indexs of the ADCC+ CDC groups,the serum IgG groups and the ADCC groups were (94.25±1.79) ％,(59.79±0.66) ％ and(69.05± 2.38) ％,respectively,and the differences among the groups were statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).In FcγRⅢ a-158Ⅴ/F groups,the cytotoxic indexs of these three groups were (66.71±5.57) ％,(18.13±2.99) ％ and (39.63±3.86) ％, respectively, and the differences among the groups were also statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Complement may enhance the rituximab-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity to Raji cells, whereas,serum IgG may weaken the cytotoxicity against Raji cells. It is clued up that for patients treated by tumorspecific monolonal antibody (MAb), combined infusion of fresh frozen plasma could promote its anti-tumor effect,however,MAb combined with IVIG may impair its anti-tumor effect.

Objective To compare the vascularization of collagen scaffolds with or without growth factors and their efficacy on cardiac function in postinfarcted rats underwent surgical ventricular restoration.Methods Collagen scaffolds were activated with 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride chemistry (EDC) as control or continually covalently immobilized with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF + basic fibrohlast growth factor (bFGF) as experimental groups.Adult SD male rats underwent left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation to generate transmural myocardial infarction(MI).Four weeks later,by echocardiography,rats with moderate scar size(25％-35％ akinetic area of freedom wall of left ventricle) were screened out,assigned into 3 groups randomly and received the surgical ventricular restocation (SVR).Then,cardiac function was measured by echocardiography at 1w,2w and 4w after patch implantation.At endpoint of study (4w after patch implantation),the rats were sacrificed and the hearts were harvested.Vascularization of patch were determined by capillary density (evidenced by vWFⅧ staining) or mature vessel density (evidenced by SMA staining) respectively.Results The general mortality of the animal model is 15％ (6/40).A significant improvement of cardiac function was observed in all animals at 1 w after patch implantation but that was better preserved in both cytokine-conjugated groups 4w later (control group vs.VEGF group,P ＜ 0.05,control group vs.VEGF + bFGF group,P ＜ 0.01).More capillaries were present in patch with growth factors (P ＜0.05),while significant functional vessel formation was observed only in VEGF + bFGF group (P ＜0.01 vs.control or VEGF group).Additionally,we identified a positive correlation between heart function and mature vessel density (P =0.0297,r2 =0.998).Conclusion The mechanical property of collagen scaffold can be effectively improved by EDC,the growth factors immobilized in scaffold were in favor of vascularization of patch,which may facilitate the preservation of cardiac function posterior to SVR.