As a result of accuracy of staging and decreased patient morbidity,sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer was quickly accepted into clinical practice.Many controversies remain in the methods and indications of sentinel lymph node biopsy.In this article,we attempt to highlight the clinical studies regarding the biopsy techniques,pathologic evaluation,indication for lymphatic mapping and eliminating axillary lymph dissection by sentinel lymph node biopsy.It is demonstrated that radioisotope and blue dye techniques are complementary.Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is most useful for detecting an internal mammary SLN,but the practicability of internal mammary SLN biopsy is still in the investigative stage.As for intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node,imprint cytology is a quick,economic and tissue-preserving method,but not very effective in the identification of micrometastasis;axillary lymph node dissection is preferable for patients with micrometastasis.Sentinel lymph node biopsy is indicated for ductal carcinoma in situ,with prophylactic mastectomy,breast cancer patients with previous reduction mammoplasty and breast implants.Currently,NSABP B32,Z0010 and Z0011,large,prospective randomized trials are in progress to evaluate unresolved issues of SLN biopsy.Although data from these trials is not available,SLN biopsy has been widely adopted in the clinic.Consistency of technique as well as case selection has attained great significance.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the results of closed reduction and static trans-articular fixation with unilateral external fixators in the treatment of unstable distal radius fractures.Methods From June 2000 to March 2005,45 patients with 50 unstable distal radius fractures were treated with closed reduction and static transarticular fixation by unilateral external fixators.Their average age was 44.8 years(15 to 78 years).All the fractures were classified with AO-scheme.There were five A3-fractures,four B3-fractures,three C1-fractures,nine C2-fractures and 29 C3-fractures in 24 cases.Follow-ups lasted from 8 to 48 months(averaging 20 months).Results The time of bone healing was 6 to 8 weeks(averaging 7.6 weeks).At the latest follow-up,the radiological outcomes were excellent in 42 fractures(39 patients)and good in eight fractures(six patients)according to the Sarmiento rating system modified by Ste wart et al.The functional results included 37 excellent cases(34 patients),nine good ones(eight patients)and four fair ones(three patients)according to the Gartland-Werley assessment.There were only four cases of superficial pin site infection settled with oral antibiotics and mild disinfectants.Conclusions Closed reduction by manipulation and static transarticular fixation with unilateral external fixators is an effective method to treat severely comminuted distal radius fractures caused by high-energy injury.Radial nerve injury and iatrogenic fracture of the 2nd metacarpal bone can be avoided,pin tract infection and pin loosening can be decreased,and early postoperative mobilization of hand can be facilitated by insertion of external pins at appropriate sites.It is unnecessary to apply supplementary bone grafting to promote bone healing.

Objective To analyze retrospectively the results of closed reduction and static transarticular fixation with unilateral external fixators in the treatment of severely comminuted distal radius fractures caused by high-energy injuries. Methods From June 2000 to June 2003, 20 patients with 24 severely comminuted distal radius fractures were treated with closed reduction and static transarticular fixation with unilateral external fixator. The injuries involved 16 males and 4 females, the age of the patients was from 15 to 48 years (average 33.4 years). All fractures were classified as Frykman's type Ⅷ or AO type C3. The operative technique consisted of reduction of the fractures by manipulation or assisted with the external fixator, then fixed them statically. The mean duration of the union was 7.4 weeks (ranged from 6-8 weeks). After the fixator removal, the patients were encouraged to proceed for the rehabilitations, such as the elbow flexion-extension, radial abduction, ulnar adduction, and the pronation as well as the supination of the forearm. Results All patients were available at the final follow-up, the mean duration was 16 months (range, 6-42 months). At the last examination, the radiological manifestations revealed excellent in 21 fractures (17 patients) and good in 3 (3 patients) according to the Sarmiento scoring system (modified by Stewart); and the functional results displaied excellent in 16 (13 patients), good in 6 (5 patients) and fair in 2 (2 patients) according to Gartland-Werley functional assessment system. There were only 2 cases of superficial pin site infection cured with oral antibiotics and local care with mild disinfectants. 7 obvious defect of mataphysis occurred in 5 patients, but the fractures united simultaneously without any additional treatment. And there was no any complication, such as pin tract infection, fixator loosening, iatrogenic fracture and injury of the superficial radial nerve. Conclusion The technique of closed reduction by manipulations or external fixators combined with static transarticular fixation plus unilateral external fixators is an effective method for the treatment of severely comminuted distal radius fracture caused by high-energy injuries, such as falling from the height. It is unnecessary to apply supplementary bone grafts to promote bone healing. The complications can be avoided by selecting the right sites for the insertion of the pins, which is beneficial for the hand to mobilize earlier after operation.

Objective To study the short-term outcome of transforaminal posterolateral endoscopic discectomy and radiofrequency annuloplasty in patients with discogenic low back pain. Methods A total of 25 patients with discogenic low back pain,who were diagnosed by provocative discography,received transforaminal posterolateral endoscopic discectomy and radiofrequency annuloplasty in our hospital. The VAS scores determined before and 6 months after the operation were compared in the patients. Their MacNab scores were also evaluated at 6 months postoperation. Results After the surgery,2 patients who had ruptured intervertebral discs (L5-S1) developed sunburn syndrome,and then was relieved by pulsed electrical stimulation for one week. The patients were followed up for 6-10 months,during which no other postoperative complications occurred. The mean VAS score of this series decreased significantly after the treatment,and kept being reduced in 6 months [preoperation:6.24?0.97,1,3,6 months after the operation:0(0~2); Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test,H=61.680,P=0.000]. Four patients showed lower limbs pain before the treatment and were relieved after the surgery. The evaluation of MacNab score showed excellent in 11 pateints,good in 12,and fair in 2,suggesting an effective rate of 92.0%(23/25). Conclusions Transforaminal posterolateral endoscopic discectomy plus radiofrequency annuloplasty is effective for discogenic low back pain in a short term.

ObjectiveTo introduce the design of the instrument for percutaneous posterolateral foraminoplasty and analyze long-term outcomes of percutaneous foraminoplasty and transforaminal endoscopic discectomy in the treatment of non-contained lumbar disc herniation.MethodsFifty-six patients with noncontained lumbar disc herniation confirmed by symptom,physical sign and concordant imaging underwent percutaneous foraminoplasty and transforaminal endoscopic discectomy,including 7 cases of L3-4,30 of L4-5 and 19 of L5S1.The visual analogue scales(VAS) of pre- and post-operative low back pain and sciatica were compared,and the Macnab scores were also evaluated.ResultsAll of the procedures were performed successfully,with mean operation time of 60 min(range,40-120 min),and a mean blood loss of 30 ml (range,20-50 ml).The follow-up time was more than 36 months.Postoperative VAS of low back pain and sciatica were significantly decreased compared with preoperative VAS (P＜0.01).There were 44 cases of excellent,10of good,and 2 of fair according to Macnab score system,with total successful rate (excellent and good) up to 96.4％.Only 5 cases with L5S1 disc herniation were found complicated with sun-burn syndrome,which were relieved by pulsed electro-stimulant therapy for 1 week.ConclusionPercutaneous foraminoplasty and transforaminal endoscopic discectomy is an effective and safe minimally invasive treatment alternative for non-contained lumbar disc herniation.

Objectives To investigate the risk factors of acute renal injury (acute kidney injury) in patients with acute left heart failure.Methods Clinical data of 188 patients with acute left heart failure who were admitted to our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors for AKI.Results Among 188 patients with acute left heart failure,incidence of acute kidney injury was 33.51％.Univariate and Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that the independent predictors of acute kidney injury were lower baseline eGFR (OR=4.294,P ＜ 0.001) and anemia (OR=3.573,P=0.006).Conclusions The incidence of acute left heart failure complicated with AKI was high.Basic state of renal function and anemia were the independent risk factors for AKI.

Purpose:To clarify the different expression patterns of the cyclins and P21 between the normal breast epithelium cells and breast cancer cells of different degrees of malignancy.Methods:Using Western Blot, we detected the protein expression of cyclin D1, E, and p21 in the normal breast epithelium cells AG11132A, ER positive MCF 7 breast cancer cells and ER negative MDA MB 231 breast cancer cells.Results:(1) P21 protein was highly expressed and cyclin E lowly expressed in the normal breast epithelium cells. Compared with the normal breast epithelium cells, Cyclin E were highly expressed in breast cancer cells of MCF 7 and MDA MB 231 cells. Abnormal low molecular weight cyclin E was co expressed with normal cyclin E in both MCF 7 and MDA MB 231 breast cancer cells, but not in normal breast epithelium cells AG11132A. (2) In breast cancer cells, compared with the ER positive MCF 7 cells the ER negative MDA MB 231 cells expressed a high level of cyclin E protein but low p21.Conclusions:(1) There are many forms of differences both quantitive and qualitative between normal cells and cancer cells, as well as between relatively low degree and high degree invasive malignant cancer cells. (2) Cyclin E and P21 may be potential indicators that reflect the malignancy of breast cancer cells, but they should be analyzed as a whole in order to get more accurate prognostic information. [

Objcctive To investigate the predictive value of the 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) in patients with the malignant process of middle cerebral artery territory infarction.Methods The40 Hz ASSR and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) were performed within 72 hours after patients with middle cerebral artery terrtory infarction admitted in the neuro-intensive care unite (NICU).At the same time,the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were assessed.Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to deterrmine the influencing factors of the malignant process.The relevant indicators of the malignant process were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve in order to clear the predictive value of 40 Hz ASSR in the malignant process of middle cerebral artery territory infarction.Results A total of 104 patients with supratentorial middle cerebral artery territory infarction were included.They were divided into the malignant process group (n=59) or the non-malignant process group (n=45).There were significant differences in the baseline NIHSS scores (17.25 ± 7.23 vs.20.40 ± 8.09; t =- 2.055,P =0.043),infarct volume (105.85 ± 73.37 mm3 us.179.15 ± 144.38 mm3; t =-3.011,P =0.004),leukocyte count ([ 10.26 ±3.14] × 109/L vs.[ 13.45 ±5.42] × 109/L; t =-3.336,P =0.001),40 Hz ASSR (Z =-3.237,P =0.001),and short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (Z =-3.130,P =0.002) grade between the malignant process group and the non-malignant process group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the40 Hz ASSR (odds ratio [OR] 3.347,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.630 -6.872; P=0.014),infarct volume (OR 1.006,95％ CI 1.001 - 1.012,P=0.003),and leukocyte count (OR 1.277,95％ CI 1.074 - 1.402; P =0.001) were the independent predictors in patients with the malignant process of middle cerebral artery territory infarction.When the 40 Hz ASSR was grade 3,the sensitivity and specificity of predicting malignant process were 39.5％ and 94.4％.Conclusions The 40 Hz ASSR has an important predictive value in patients with the malignant process of middle cerebral artery territory infarction.

The clinical electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring systems based on personal computer system can not meet the requirements of portability and home usage. The epilepsy patients have to be monitored in hospital for an extended period of time, which imposes a heavy burden on hospitals. In the present study, we designed a portable 16-lead networked monitoring system based on the Android smart phone. The system uses some technologies including the active electrode, the WiFi wireless transmission, the multi-scale permutation entropy (MPE) algorithm, the back-propagation (BP) neural network algorithm, etc. Moreover, the software of Android mobile application can realize the processing and analysis of EEG data, the display of EEG waveform and the alarm of epileptic seizure. The system has been tested on the mobile phones with Android 2. 3 operating system or higher version and the results showed that this software ran accurately and steadily in the detection of epileptic seizure. In conclusion, this paper provides a portable and reliable solution for epileptic seizure monitoring in clinical and home applications.
Algorithms ; Cell Phone ; Electrocardiography ; Electroencephalography ; instrumentation ; Entropy ; Epilepsy ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; instrumentation ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Software

Background and purpose: BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers have a high lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Through genetic counseling, mutation carriers can take the appropriate measures to reduce such cancer risk. At present, almost all related studies were conducted in Caucasian, while, the studies in Chinese population were rare. This study aimed to investigate the risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers in Chinese Han population. Methods:Twenty unrelated families with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations were re-viewed. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to estimate the cumulative risks of unilateral breast cancer and contralateral breast cancer for female BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Results:Breast cancer risk to 70 years (penetrance) was 67.2%(sx 0.100) for BRCA1 and 76.8%(sx 0.079) for BRCA2, respectively. Different from BRCA1 mutation carriers, the cumulative incidence of breast cancer in BRCA2 mutation carriers remained increasing after 70 years, reaching 93.1%at age 80. The 10-and 20-year risk for contralateral breast cancer was 19.4%(sx 0.089) and 50.3%(sx 0.155) for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Conclusion:BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers in Chinese Han population have a high risk of developing breast cancer. Thus, it has great clinical signiifcance to test mutations in BRCA1/2 genes in Chinese high-risk population.