Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome ; Humans

Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital malformations, and its main clinical manifestation is the abnormal opening of the urethra. Etiologically, it can be attributed to many factors, mainly including genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Recently studies about its genetic etiologies have found a variety of hypospadias-associated genes from the aspects of epidemiology and polymorphism, mainly those involving the formation of the penis, the development of the testis, the anabolism of androgens, and so on. This review focuses on the progress in the studies on the genetic etiology of hypospadias.
Androgens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; genetics ; Male ; Penis ; embryology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Testis ; embryology ; Urethra

AIMTo produce a new, noninvasive, animal's blood pressure measuring apparatus.

METHODSBy applying the principle similar with the measurement of human blood pressure, we developed a software which knowledge property owned by this research group and solved the problems of exactly demarcating the measuring spot of diastolic pressure. The blood pressure of rabbits was measured by the novel noninvasive animal's blood pressure measuring apparatus and the classic surgical catheterizing method simultaneously.

RESULTSThe novel noninvasive animal's blood pressure measuring apparatus was successfully set up. The measured blood pressures by this apparatus are very similar (r > 0.9) with the values obtained from the classic, surgical catheterizing method, no matter the blood pressures are normal, high or low.

CONCLUSIONOur new apparatus can be a reliable method for noninvasive measurement of the blood pressure of rabbits and rats.

Animals ; Blood Pressure Determination ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Rabbits ; Software ; Sphygmomanometers

Objective To evaluate the clinical features and the strategy for the diagnosis and treat- ment of bilateral testicular tumor.Methods The clinical data (including the signs and symptoms,imaging studies,tumor markers,treatment modalities and histopatbologic diagnoses) of 10 cases of bilateral testicular tumor from January 1980 to December 2004 were reviewed.Their age ranged from 19 to 58 years(mean,34 years).Of the 10 cases,8 with metachronous and 2 with synchronous testicular tumors were identified.The clinical stages at the primary and secondary tumor diagnosis were:5 cases of stageⅠ,3 of stageⅡ;and 6 cases of stageⅠ,1 of stageⅡ,and 1 of stageⅢ,respectively,in 8 metachronous tumor patients.Two syn- chronous tumor patients were both identified as stageⅠdisease.Histological examination showed the primary tumor (seminoma) in 4 cases and the secondary contralateral tumor (seminoma) in 3.Results Two syn- chronous tumor patients underwent bilateral radical orchiectomy simultaneously,and 8 underwent orchiectomy successively.Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed in 3 cases.Postoperatively,hypogonadism occurred in 10 patients,and 7 of them received androgen replacement therapy.Follow-up ranged from 9 month to 23 years with a mean of 10.5 years.Two patients died of the disease;2 had metastasis (1 of them was alive with metastasis);2 had recurrences and underwent local resection.Conclusions Metachronous bilateral testicular cancers are more common than synchronous bilateral testicular cancers.Seminoma was the most common histopathologic type.Testis-sparing surgery can be performed in selected cases.

Objective To evaluate the application of “OmniView”, a new three-dimensional ultrasound technology, in displaying the fetal palate. Methods The three-dimensional volume data was acquired from 100 normal fetuses, analysed by OmniView technology with the facial midsagittal plane as the starting plane. The imaging of fetal palate was obtained in axial plane (through maxilla, oral cleft), coronal plane, oblique coronal plane (through piriform aperture, oral cleft, submental triangle), and the palate′s curved plane tiled imaging by drawing the anatomical lines on referenced sagittal plane (facial midsagittal plane). The volumes of ifve fetuses with cleft lip and palate were obtained and analysed by the same technology. Results The volume dataset of 91 (91.0%, 91/100) normal fetuses were acquired successfully, and analyzed by OmniView technology, the results of 91 normal fetal palate in different plane were: (1) In axial plane through maxilla, the visualization of alveolar process bow was 91 (100%, 91/91). It was shown as“C”shaped arcuate structure, the anechoic structure of alveolar socket could be seen on the bow, and the ifrst 6 alveolar sockets were displayed clearly. The visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91), it was shown as hyperechoic lfake between two sides of alveolar bones. In axial plane through oral cleft, the visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91), it was shown as a strip of soft tissue echo band. (2) In coronal plane, the visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91), it was shown as a strip of hyperechoic band and separated the oral and nasal cavity. (3) In oblique coronal plane through piriform aperture, the visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91), it was shown as a short strip of hyperechoic band. In oblique coronal plane through oral cleft, the visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91). In oblique coronal plane through submental triangle, the visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91). In the above two planes, the hard palate was shown as a strip of hyperechoic band, due to acoustic shadow behind the hard palate, the nasal cavity and nasal septum above the hard palate couldn’t be displayed. (4) In oblique coronal plane through piriform aperture, the visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91). The visualization number of uvula was 25 (27.5%, 25/91). The soft palate was shown as a lfake of soft tissue echo behind the hard palate, and the uvula was shown as papillary protrusions on the edge of the soft palate in the midline. In oblique coronal plane through oral cleft, the visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91). In oblique coronal plane through submental triangle, the visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91). In the above two planes, the soft palate was shown as a strip of soft tissue echo band, the soft tissue echo of fetal tongue was in the lower front of soft palate, and the anechoic region of nasopharynx was superior behind the soft palate. (5) In the curved plane tiled imaging of palate, the visualization number of alveolar process bow (primary palate) was 91 (100%, 91/91). The visualization number of hard palate was 91 (100%, 91/91). The visualization number of soft palate was 81 (89.0%, 81/91). the visualization number of uvula was 25 (27.5%, 25/91), the planar panorama of alveolar process bow, hard palate and soft palate could be visualized intuitively, the alveolar arch and hard palate were shown as bone-like hyperecho, and the soft palate was shown as soft tissue hypoecho. In iffteen cases′volume involved cleft lip and palate, all five cases of malformations were detected through three-dimensional data analysis, the position and range of the cleft palate could also be conifrm. Abnormal fetuses were all veriifed after induction of labor. Conclusions By three-dimensional ultrasound technology-“OmniView”, the axial and coronal plane of fetal palate could be obtained easily which was dififcult by two-dimensional ultrasound, and the special oblique coronal plane of secondary palate could be displayed easily. The panorama of the palate could be visualized intuitively though curved plane tiled imaging by drawing a line tracking the structure of the palate. This technology could simplify the ultrasound examination procedure of the fetal palate, reduce the operators′skill-dependence, and quickly evaluated the integrity of the fetal primary palate and secondary palate. For the cleft lip fetus, this technology can determine whether the cleft palate exist or not, together with their position and range.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of galectin-3 (Gal-3) in prolactinomas.

METHODSExpressions of Gal-3 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibody in 16 invasive prolactinomas and 16 prolactinomas.

RESULTSGal-3 was expressed both in invasive prolactinomas and noninvasive prolactinomas while significantly higher expression seen in the invasive prolactinomas (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGal-3 expression may be used as a useful indicator to determine the invasiveness and prognosis of prolactinomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Galectin 3 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Prolactinoma ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore factors influencing the recurrence of patients with Cushing's disease after transsphenoidal surgery.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 182 patients treated by transsphenoidal surgery with Cushing's disease in our department in PUMC Hospital from 1992 to 2002.

RESULTSThe recurrence rates were significantly different when patients had different radiological findings (P = 0.001), operative methods (P = 0.001), histological findings (P = 0.04), and postoperative cortisol levels (P = 0.02); however, such difference was not found in term of tumor size (P = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONRadiological findings, operative methods, histological findings, and postoperative cortisol estimates may be the factors influencing the recurrence of patients treated by transsphenoidal surgery.

Adenoma ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Hypophysectomy ; methods ; Male ; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion ; etiology ; surgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVESTo explore MICM classification and adverse prognostic factors in adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODSThe MICM classification, clinical characteristics of 80 adolescents with ALL admitted to our hospital from January 1998 to December 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. Survival data were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the prognostic factors were analyzed with the COX regression model.

RESULTSIn the 80 patients, B-ALL and T-ALL accounted for 69.12% and 26.47%, respectively. The percentage of Ph(+)ALL was 18.37% (9/49), and that of hyperdiploidy was 4.08%. Patients at diagnosis with high leukocyte counts (> 50 x 10(9)/L) accounted for 27.94%. Among the 78 cases treated with VDP(L) or CODP(L) regimens, 73 (91.03%) obtained CR in 4 weeks. After a median follow-up of 24 months, the estimated 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients receiving chemotherapy or allo-HSCT were (32.55 +/- 16.50)% and (69.58 +/- 8.72)%, respectively (P < 0.05). In COX analysis, high initial leukocyte counts (> 50 x 10(9)/L) and Philadelphia chromosome positivity were adverse prognostic factors for long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONSMICM classification has important clinical and prognostic significance in the risk-directed therapy of adolescents with ALL. The adverse prognostic features for these patients were high leukocyte counts, less incidence of chromosome hyperdiploidy and Ph chromosome positivity.

Adolescent ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Karyotyping ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; classification ; genetics ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the experience on diagnosis and treatment of multiple adrenal aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA).

METHODSEighteen cases of multiple adrenal APA were analyzed retrospectively, which were admitted from October 1992 to April 2006.

RESULTSAdrenalectomy was performed for 4 cases of unilateral synchronous multiple APA, which were discovered with three adenomas by 3D-CT; bilateral tumor resection was performed for 6 cases of bilateral synchronous multiple APA. There were 8 cases of bilateral metachronous multiple APA, including 2 cases of ipsilateral recurrent adrenal APA after adrenal tumor removal, which underwent tumor resection. Another 6 cases were contralateral APA following adrenalectomy due to adrenal APA, and underwent tumor resection. After operation, the adrenal function seemed to be normal, and no recurrence had been found on follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSUnilateral multiple synchronous APA require adrenalectomy. Tumor resection should be performed for bilateral or asynchronous APA, and it is very important to preserve healthy adrenal tissue as much as possible. 3D-CT has much value on diagnosis of small APA, unilateral multiple synchronous APA and ipsilateral recurrent adrenal APA.

Adenoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Aldosterone ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; blood ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo compare the image quality and radiation dose of prospectively electrocardiogram (ECG) -triggered spiral and sequential acquisition for coronary computed tomographic angiography by dual-source computed tomography.

METHODSSixty patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease were randomly divided into two groups. Group A underwent prospective ECG-triggering spiral scan and Group B underwent prospective ECG-triggering sequential scan. Both the image quality and radiation dose of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in age and body mass index of the two groups. The average image quality score was 1.12 ± 0.38 in group A and 1.14 ± 0.38 in group B (Z=-0.291,P=0.771) . The rates of diagnostic coronary segments for two groups were 98.87% and 99.56% respectively (X2=0.59,P=0.443) . The mean radiation dose of group A was significantly lower than that of group B [ (1.31 ± 0.30) mSv vs. (3.36 ± 0.93) mSv; t=11.47, P=0.000] .

CONCLUSIONCompared with the prospective ECG-triggered sequential acquisition, the prospective ECG - triggered spiral scan for coronary computed tomographic angiography can remarkably reduce radiation dose without impairing image quality in patients with a low and stable heart rate (≤ 70 bpm) .

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiation Dosage ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods