Objective To evaluate two different MRI techniques , enhanced 3D STIR SPACE and unidirectionally-encoded DWIBS MR Neurography in visualizing the brachial plexus.Methods Twenty healthy volunteers underwent MR scanning by the procedures of unidirectionally -encoded DWIBS and enhanced 3D STIR SPACE sequence of the brachial plexus.Original images were reconstructed with coronal maximum intensity projection ( MIP ).The image quality was assessed by comparing the visualization of various parts of the brachial plexus and the suppression ratio of image background.The degree of visualization was compared via χ2-test of paired data , and comparison of background suppression scores was performed using a nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank sum test.Results The successful rate of visualizing the brachial plexus supraclavicular section ( C5-T1 ) was 84% ( 167/200 ) and 99% ( 198/200 ) , respectively, for the DWIBS and enhanced 3D STIR SPACE, and the rate for the infraclavicular section was 33%( 13/40 ) and 95% ( 38/40 ).The differences between these two techniques were statistically significant (χ2 value was 28.18 and 31.15 respectively, P <0.01).In all images, the scores of grade (Ⅰ-Ⅳ) of background suppression were 0, 0, 4 and 16 for unidirectionally-encoded DWIBS, respectively;while they were 15, 4, 1 and 0 for enhanced 3D STIR SPACE.There was significant difference between the two techniques ( Z =3.96,P <0.01).Conclusions High-quality MR neurography of the brachial plexus can be obtained using the enhanced 3D STIR SPACE sequence.It offers a complete anatomical coverage of the brachial plexus , and thus demonstrates a better capacity in depicting the anatomy of brachial plexus as compared with the unidirectionally-encoded DWIBS.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Ligustrazine (TMP) on the expression of caspase-3 and ABR threshold in guinea pig cochlea after gentamicin (GM) ototoxicity. Methods:A total of 80 guinea pigs were randomly divided into saline group, GM group, GM+TMP group and TMP group. The duration of treatment was lasted 10 d continuously in all groups. The dose was decided by their weight. The ABR threshold were measured before and after administration of 10 d. SABC immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of caspase-3 in the spiral ganglion,cochlea hair cells,and stria vascularis of guinea pigs. Results:(1) The average gray value in the spiral ganglion cells, stria vascularis and hair cells in GM group had significant difference with those in the same position of control group (P<0.05) .The average gray value in the spiral ganglion cells and hair cells in GM+TMP group had no difference with those in the same position of control group (P>0.05), but in stria vascularis (P<0.05) . Meanwhile the average gray value in spiral ganglion, hair cells, stria vascularis in TMP+GM group had significant difference with those in GM group (P<0.05) . (2) The ABR threshold had no significant differences before treatment (P>0.05) . After administration of 10 d, the ABR threshold of GM group was significantly changed (P<0.05) . The ABR thresholds in GM group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05) . The ABR threshold in TMP+GM group was lower than that in GM group (P<0.05) . Conclusion:TMP participates in preventing the process of cochlea injury caused by GM,through blocking the expression of caspase-3 in cochlea tissue of GM ototoxicosis probably,which achieve the protection of GM deafness eventually.

Postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage are unfavorable prognostic factors in patients with esophageal carcinoma.However,the prognostic importance of pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage after neoadjuvant treatment in these patients remains unclear.This study aimed to determine the effect of postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage on long-term survival after neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer.Our study were recruited 441 consecutive patients who had curative resection following neoadjuvant treatment for esophageal cancer in our institution from 2011-2021.The clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of these patients were studied in terms of postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leaking.Survival was analyzed using the log-rank test and multivariable Cox regression analysis.Postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage were present in 23.8％(n=105)and 5.2％(n=23)of esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy,respectively.In the univariate analyses,pulmonary complications were associated with shorter disease-free survival,while anastomotic leakage was associated with shorter overall survival.Multivariable analysis revealed that pulmonary complications after neoadjuvant therapy were independent adverse prognostic factors for disease-free survival.Taken together,postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage ware significantly negatively correlated with disease-free and overall survival,respectively.And the postoperative pulmonary complication is an independent poor prognostic factor of disease-free survival for esophageal cancer following neoadjuvant treatment.