Objective To study the application of pulmonary angiography and reconstruction techniques with 16-detector row spiral CT in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the elderly.Methods Twenty-four elderly patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism received detection of CT and pulmonary artery angiography ( CTPA ) on 16-detector MSCT.Post-reconstruction techniques included maximum intensity projection (MIP), volume rendering (VR)and multiple planar reformation (MPR). Results A total of 161 pulmonary artery thrombi were detected in 24 elderly patients. The direct signs of pulmonary embolism included total occlusion (16.8%, 27/161), partial filling defect (67.7%, 109/161) and central filling defect or track sign (15.5%, 25/161). A total of 161 pieces of pulmonary thrombi were detected in transect image, 153 (95.0%) in MPR, 113 (70.2%) in MIP and 69 (42.9%) in VR. The transect image excelled evidently MIP and VR image in displaying pulmonary thrombi, especially the thrombi in pulmonary lobe and pulmonary artery branch (χ2 =235.36 and 243.41, P＜0.05). Conclusions The 16-detector row spiral CT pulmonary angiography is non-invasive, fast and high sensitive, it should be the first choice for the diagnosis of PE in the elderly.

Objective: To investigate the current status of brucella infection in major occupational groups in Bayannur, China, and to analyze the risk factors for brucellosis. Methods: From January to March, 2015, a questionnaire survey and the serological testing were performed to investigate the current status of brucella infection in 649 workers in 13 slaughter and breeding plants in 7 counties in Bayannur, China. The items in the questionnaire survey included general information, related occupational information, living habits, medical history, and awareness of related knowledge. Results: A total of 112 workers (17.26%) had brucella infection. Brucella infection was associated with sex, age, years of exposure to hazardous substances, job, educational background, usage of protective equipment, the presence or absence of a wound at the exposure site, and whether to smoke during the work clearance (P<0.05) . The multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for brucellosis were meat processing work (OR=1.812) , >5 years of exposure to hazardous substances (OR=1.363) , improper use or nonuse of protective equipment (OR=1.957) , smoke during work (OR=2.027) , and the presence of a woundat the exposure site (OR= 1.231) ; the protective factors for brucellosis were high school and college education and above (OR=0.521) and high rate of awareness of brucella-related knowledge (OR=0.648) . Conclusion The brucella infection rate is high in the major occupational groups in Bayannur, China. The main influencing factors for brucellosis are job, years of exposure to hazardous substances, usage of protective equipment, whether to smoke during work, and the presence or absence of a wound at the exposure site.

Objective:To explore any correlation between knee muscle strength and walking ability after an incomplete lumbar spinal cord injury and the factors influencing walking ability.Methods:Twenty-seven persons with an incomplete lumbar spinal cord injury were tested. Their bilateral quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength and peak torque during knee extension and flexion were assessed. They completed the 10m walking time test (10MWT) and each person′s WWISCI II spinal cord injury walking index was evaluated. Spearman correlations among the data were computed and stepwise regression was used to analyze the factors significantly influencing the 10MWT and WISCI II results.Results:The average hamstring strength was significantly negatively correlated with the 10MWT times and WISCI II ratings. Hamstring torque also was negatively correlated with the 10MWT times, but positively correlated with the WISCI II ratings. The 10MWT times and WISCI II ratings were significantly inter-correlated. Hamstring strength was the best predictor of 10MWT times (accounting for 63% of the variance) and WISCI II ratings (64%), but quadriceps strength was also a secondary predictor.Conclusions:Knee muscle strength is a useful predictor of 10MWT times and WISCI II ratings after incomplete lumbar spinal cord injury. It can predict early walking ability to some extent.