Objective To study the value of 18F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in diagnosis of patients suspected with gastric malignant tumors. Methods Ten women and fourteen men, with a mean age of (56±15) years (ranged from 28 to 83 years) suspected of gastric malignant tumors were enrolled from May 2007 to July 2007. According to the results of the first time endoscopy and biopsy, patients were divided into gastric cancer group (n=9) and suspected group(n= 15). 18F-FDG PET/CT whole body scan was performed in gastric cancer group for assistant operation and suspected group for further diagnosis. The results of PET/CT for suspected group were all confirmed by the endoscopy later. The final diagnosis was based on pathology and follow-up. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of gastric malignant tumors were analyzed, as well as the tumor staging before operation. Results The malignant tumor was found in 16 out of 24 patients who received 18F-FDG PET/CT scan, including 9 in gastric cancer group and 7 in suspected group. Sixteen tumors originated from stomach,and 1 infiltrated the liver, pancreas and omentum. Liver (1 case) and lung (1 case) metastases were found. Three lesions limited in intestine and 13 had positive lymph nodes. Two patiens in suspected group were not diagnosed by PET/CT, one was negative and the other, who suspected as gastric cancer by PET/CT, was pathologicaly confirmed as benign gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of gastric malignant tumors were 16/17, 6/7, 16/17 and 6/7, respectively. Six patients of stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ were all detected. Conclusions 18F-FDG PET/CT whole body scan is not only a feasible, safe, noninvasive and promising diagnostic tool in detecting and differentiating gastric cancer from benign tumor, but also can assist the management of disease.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of PDCA cycle management on perioperative prophylactic application of antibiotics in typeⅠincision surgery of orthopedics department. METHODS:In retrospective analysis,512 discharge medical records, 861 ones and 1 070 ones were selected from our hospital before PDCA cycle management(Jan.-Dec. 2013,before intervention group), after first cycle of PDCA cycle management (Jan.-Dec. 2014,first intervention group) and after second cycle of PDCA cycle management(Jan.-Dec. 2015,second intervention group),respectively. The perioperative prophylactic application of antibiotics was analyzed comparatively before and after continuous intervention. RESULTS:After 2 cycles of PDCA cycle management intervention, the constituent ratio of internal fixation in orthopedics department increased significantly;utilization ratio of antibiotics,the rate of rational type,medication ratio 0.5-1 h before surgery,the rate of rational treatment course,the proportion of antibiotics use in accordance with indications increased from 50.20%,98.08%,93.77%,6.61%,82.10% to 58.41%,100%,99.04%,52.00%, 99.04%,respectively. The number of antibiotics type decreased from 4 to 2;the proportion of cephazolin increased significantly while that of clindamycin decreased significantly compared to before intervention. Postoperative prophylactic medication course decreased from(4.63 ± 2.42)d to(1.61 ± 0.75)d;the proportion of patients with medication course <24 h or ranged 24-48 h increased significantly, while those with medication course>72 h decreased significantly, with statistical significance (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:PDCA cycle management improves the rational rate of perioperative prophylactic application of antibiotics in typeⅠincision surgery of orthopedics department in our hospital. The prophylactic medication course of our hospital is not yet fully controlled within 24 h so it should be further intervened.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between uroflowmetry and age, the course of disease, premicturition volume, transition zone index and proportion of stroma-to-epithelium in benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients. METHODS: Eighty-nine BPH patients in our hospital from 2000 to 2003 were evaluated. With the CMM3 pathology image analysis system, transrectal ultrasound and Dantec 2000 urodynamic instrument, the value of influence factors was determined. A linear regression was applied to analyze all the data by SPSS software. RESULTS: The flow rate was correlated to premicturition volume ( r = 0. 477, P < 0.01) and proportion of stroma-to-epithelium significantly ( r = - 0.437, P < 0.05) , but was not correlated to the age, the course of disease and transition zone index significantly. The parameter of flow rate/premicturition volume had no difference in 3 micturitions in all patients. CONCLUSION The parameter (flow rate/premicturition volume)could be used to evaluate the micturition status of the BPH patients whose bladder volume is less than 200 ml. We should pay more attention to receptor blockers when we treat BPH patients.
Aged ; Circadian Rhythm ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; physiopathology ; Urination ; physiology ; Urodynamics ; physiology

Objective To explore the relationships between micro-ecological environmental factors and the density of Snails so as to provide information for the elimination of Snails and control of Schistosomiasis disease,under ecological methods.Methods A bottomland close to Junshan Park in Yueyang city,Hunan province was selected as the field for survey during 10,2007-10,2008,and a systematic sampling method was applied to determine the specific sites of Snail investigation.All the Snails in each frames were collected and the soil surface temperature and vegetation coverage in several frames were measured.30 g soil sample in each selected frames were also collected simultaneously.The number of live Snails in each frame was counted by dissection,and soil measured pH value and soil moisture were tested in the laboratory.The distribution of Snails and microecological environmental factors,fitted general additive model for the relationship of these factors and the Snail density were described.Results 104 frames were surveyed,with pH value as between 4.70-7.92,vegetation coverage as in 1% to 96%,soil surface temperature as in 14.5-32.7℃,the soil moisture as in 0.07-2.00.Under General additive model,data showed that there was no significant difference for vegetation coverage.However,other factors were all significantly different(P＜0.001).It was found that a nonlinear relationship was existing between these factors and the Snail density.Conclusion Smoothing function relationship was noticed between the Snail density and micro-ecological environmental factors.It's suggested to fit general additive model to study the relationship between the distribution of Snails and its influencing factors,so as to adopt appropriate measures to change the related ecology to control the diffusion and reproduction of Snails.

Objective To explore the impact and regularity of snail population after changing of water level and to develop effective control and prediction programs. Methods A typical snail habitat closed to Changjiang county in Yueyang city, Hunan province was selected as the survey field.Data on water level and the changing trend of snail population during 2001-2009 including the average water level, maximum and minimum water levels, snail and infected snail densities,proportion of sampling frames with living and infected snails etc. were collected. The distribution of water level and snail indexes were described and a general additive model(GAM)for the relationships between these indexes were also fitted. Results Impacts of the average water level and the watered-out days in current year in the surveyed field on the snail density were statistically significant(P＜0.01), showing a quadratic curve association. The snail density remained at the lowest level when the average water level was at 25.0 m and the surveyed field watered-out days was 120. The average water level in current year and the field watered-out days in the past year showed statistically significant impacts on the infected snail density(P＜0.001), the proportion of sampling frames with infected snails(P＜0.05)and living snails(P value neared 0.05), presented a quadratic curve, a cubic curve or even a more complicated piecewise curve association. Both the infected snail density and the proportion of sampling frames with infected snails remained at the lowest level when the average water level was at 25.0 m and the watered-out days in the past year was 110, while the proportion of sampling frames with living snails kept the lowest level when the average water level was at 25.0 m and the watered-out days in the past year was 160. Conclusion The water level and the field watered-out days affected the development of snail population directly. The changing water level had an impact on snail population change, which mainly presented as nonlinear smooth function relation. Impact of the field watered out days on the infected snail density and the proportion of sampling frames with living snails and infected snails showed a hysteresis effect. The snail density was predicted to be retaining a high level when the water level was 24.0 m and the field watered-out days was 3 months. It had obvious advantages to fit the relationship of the changing water level and the snail indexes with a GAM which could get closer to the reality as well as easier to find and explain the potential associations and regulations.

OBJECTIVETo clone a novel human testis-specific gene TDRG1.

METHODSA new contig of expression sequence tags (ESTs) Hs.180197 was identified from the testis libraries using digital differential display (DDD) to screen the novel human testis-specific gene. To validate the use of bioinformatics approaches in gene discovery, the ESTs Hs.180197, which was predicted to be testis specific, was chosen for further study. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on different normal tissues to identify the expression of Hs.180197 in human testis. Using bioinformatics methods and IMAGE cloning of this contig, the full-length cDNA sequence of the noval human gene was cloned.

RESULTSThis novel gene was 1197 bp in length, located in chromosome 6p21.1-p21.2. The sequence of the open reading frame was 504-806 bp, as confirmed by RT-PCR and sequencing in human testis. The cDNA encodes a novel protein of 100 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 10 000 and isoelectric point of 6.81. The sequence shares no significant homology with any known protein in the databases. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of multiple tissues further showed that the novel gene was expressed specifically in adult human testis. Considering a possible relation of this novel gene with the function of human testis, we named this new gene TDRG1 (testis development related gene 1, GenBank accession number: DQ168992).

CONCLUSIONDDD combined with laboratory validation is an efficient method for identifying new human functional genes.

Adult ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Databases, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Organ Specificity ; Proteins ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Testis ; metabolism

Objective To detect the snail habitats from the marshland of Eastern Dongting Lake Area, using the Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology based on the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite-02B (CBERS-02B) CCD images. Methods According to the two typical traits of snail habitats in marshland including "water in summer and land in winter" and "no grass, no snails" , the "water in summer and land in winter" region and the vegetation coverage region were calculated by RS image processing respectively. The two regions mentioned above were then overlapped to confirm the snail habitats through comparing with the data from field survey under spatial overlapping of Arcgis as the last step. Results In Eastern Dongting Lake area, the "water in summer and land in winter" region and vegetation coverage region were predicted based on the formula normalized difference water index (NDWI) >0.01 and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) >0.36, respectively. The snail habitat was determined by theme overlay of the two regions said above.The agreement rate between the prediction and the geospatial data of field survey was 93.55% , which demonstrated the final results were credible and reliable. Conclusion CBERS-02B image could be used to detect the snail habitats and to monitor the changes of them, so as to find out the characteristics of distribution and the trends of diffusion. The snail index (discriminant 1 and 2) seemed to be suitable for the detection of snail habitats in the marshland of Lake area and used for the programs of snail control.

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of endoscopic epicardial microwave ablation, a new completely endoscopic technique, for isolated atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSFrom July to October of 2004, 5 patients with isolated permanent AF underwent this procedure. We performed epicardial microwave ablation using FLEX10 probe under the guide of VasoView 5 endoscope. The probe was placed around left and right pulmonary vein orifices, the microwave application was set 65 W/90 s, and a continuous ablation line was obtained encircling the pulmonary veins. Echocardiography and electrocardiography were carried out in all patients before and after operation.

RESULTSFive patients received electrical conversion after ablation. Average ablation time was 35.0 min and average procedure time was 2.5 h without any procedure-related complications. At the 3-month, 6-month and 12-month follow-up, 4 patients (80%) were in sinus rhythm, associated with a reduced left atrial diameter and an improved cardiac function.

CONCLUSIONEndoscopic epicardial microwave ablation for isolated atrial fibrillation appears to be safe and effective.

Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis and preoperative staging of uterine cervical cancer.

METHODSMRI findings and staging in 72 patients with cervical carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed, and the size, location, signal intensity and invasion of the tumor were observed. MRI sequence included SE T1WI, (TSE)T2WI, T2WI/SPIR and contrast-enhanced T1WI.

RESULTSMRI identified uterus cervical cancer in all cases with the exception of only 1 case of IA stage. The tumor was represented by hypointensity and isointensity on T1WI, heterogeneous and homogeneous hyperintensity on T2WI, mildly heterogeneous enhancement after bolus intravenous GD-DTPA injection. MRI had an accuracy of 86% in localization of the tumor, but its accuracy in clinical staging was only 64% (chi2=6.453, P<0.05). The tumor volume measured by MRI was similar with that by pathological measurement (1.94-/+1.15 vs 1.94-/+1.11, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMRI can accurately describe the size and invasion of uterine cervical cancer, especially useful in detecting parametrial invasion, but for diagnosis of IA uterine cervical cancer, MRI findings are not sufficient without considerations of clinical findings and cellular examination.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Preoperative Care ; Reproducibility of Results ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo apply the off-pump epicardial microwave ablation (MW) to treat the permanent atrial fibrillation (PAF) and evaluate the clinical effect.

METHODSFrom April 2003 to April 2005, a total of 46 patients with PAF underwent off-pump epicardial MW, including the patients with mitral valve disease (28 cases), mitral and aortic valve disease (5 cases), coronary artery disease (8 cases) and lone PAF (5 cases). FLEX 10 probe was placed around four pulmonary orifices and the access orifice of the inferior vena cava to tricuspid annulus. The microwave application was set 65 W, 90 s and a continuous ablation line was finished encircling the pulmonary veins. Subsequently, patients underwent either off-pump coronary artery bypass graft or valve surgery on-pump. Mean left atrial diameter was (52.5 +/- 15.3) mm, LVEF 42% - 70% before operation. All patients were followed up in the discharge, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery by standard 12-lead ECG, 24 h Holter, UCG and clinical examination.

RESULTSAll procedures were completed successful on the off-pump cardiac surgery and 46 patients were converted sinus rhythm when the operations were performed. Mean ablation time was (37.7 +/- 7.8) min, without any related complications. At discharge, 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up, 63.0%, 66.7%, 72.7% and 80.6% of the patients kept sinus rhythm and left atrial diameter of < 50 mm.

CONCLUSIONSUsing MW, electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins can be achieved epicardially without cardiopulmonary bypass support. Off-pump epicardial microwave ablation is an efficient option with an excellent benefit/risk ratio for the treatment of PAF with or without other cardio-surgical disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome