Estrogen has widespread biological actions. Besides sexual organs, estrogen plays an important role in cardiovascular system, central nervous sy s tem and bone tissue. However, the mechanisms of estrogen action are very complex and not fully understood. The actions of estrogen are not identical and even co mpletely different in some organs system. In this review, we will focus on the n ew development of molecular mechanisms of estrogen action.

Caecal volvulus has been reported to be associated with various abdominal and pelvic pathologies. Its signs and symptoms are usually non-specific and maybe overlooked in favour of benign causes, such as constipation. A high degree of suspicion is required for prompt diagnosis. Herein, we report on an unusual case of caecal volvulus after a dental procedure that was managed initially as constipation.

0.05).Conclusion There are no significant effects on bone metabolism and growth of children with small dose of IGs per day for a longer time.

In this paper, the question about automatic brightness control for x-ray imaging systems based on CCD camera is discussed, and the structure and principle of an auto brightness control loop are analyzed along with the working procedure of the x-ray imaging system. A kind of digital brightness controller about a typical device and the designing idea of the computer brightness intelligent control software is introduced.
Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Radiation Protection ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; instrumentation ; Radiography ; instrumentation ; X-Ray Intensifying Screens

Introduction: Positive oral contrast is no longer deemed necessary for abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scans. Studies have shown water to be an equally effective oral contrast agent. However, to our knowledge no study has compared effectiveness between gastrografin and water in the same patient, which will provide a more objective evaluation of the two oral contrast agents. We aim to make a head-to-head comparison of water as neutral oral contrast (OC) against gastrografin as positive OC for abdominopelvic CT scans in the same patient. Methods: A retrospective review of 206 abdominopelvic CT scans of 103 patients was performed. The scans were reviewed in consensus by two blinded radiologists. The ability to visualise each abdominopelvic organ, contrastassociated artefacts and small bowel wall delineation, was qualitatively scored on a 5-point scale. Each patient had two sets of scores, one with water and another with gastrografin as OC. Paired scores from the two OCs were evaluated by Wilcoxon signed rank test to determine any significant difference in performance between the two OCs for visualisation of abdominopelvic anatomy on CT. Results: There was significantly better delineation of duodenal wall (p<0.001) and overall visualisation of the duodenum (p=0.011) using water as OC compared to gastrografin. No statistically significant differences were demonstrated between water and gastrografin for visualisation of the rest of the abdominopelvic organs, walldelineation of the rest small bowel and contrast-associated artefacts. Conclusions: Water can be used in place of gastrografin as oral contrast in abdominopelvic CT without compromising visualization of abdominopelvic organs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential risk factors and management of excessive epistaxis after endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES). METHOD: Six hundred and forty-one patients who underwent EES in our hospital from December 2011 to December 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Factors which potentially affect the incidence of excessive epistaxis after EES were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression model. RESULT: The incidence rate of excessive epistaxis after EES was 8.4% in our study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that history of previous EES, along with other four factors, correlated significantly with the occurrence of excessive epistaxis after EES. CONCLUSIONS Previous EES, along with other three factors, may increase the chance of excessive epistaxis after EES, while pre-operative corticosteroid therapy may reduce the risk to some extent.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Endoscopy ; adverse effects ; Epistaxis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Nose ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the correlation factors between CT imaging features of pulmonary embolism(PE)and clinical severity stratification,to explore the value of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)in acute PE severity stratification.Methods According to the clinical severity,48 patients with acute PE proved by CTPA were classified into two groups,including 21 critical and 27 non-critical patients. Embolism index,ratio of central pulmonary involvement,ratio of right ventricle maximum minor axis (RVMMA)to left ventricle maximum minor axis(LVMMA),namely RV:LV,dilation of main pulmonary and/or right pulmonary trunk,and dilation of bronchial arteries in both groups were analyzed comparatively. The correlation factors between CT imaging features and PE clinical severity stratification were explored.The correlation between RV:LV and embolism index of 48 patients was analyzed.Results Pulmonary embolism index(22.0%—85.0%,median 38.0%),ratio of central pulmonary involvement(42.5%),RV:LV (0.90—1.90,median 1.30),dilation of pulmonary artery(14 cases),and dilation of bronchial artery (8 cases)in critical group(21 cases)were higher than those corresponding factors(5%—48%,median 21.5%,31.25%,0.80—1.40,median 1.00,5 eases,and 3 eases)in non-critical group(27 cases) (Z=4.27,X~2=5.40,Z=2.58,X~2=11.45,X~2=4.87,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic correlation between pre-S1 antigen, pre-S2 antigen and HBV DNA in the serum of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing nucleoside analogue therapy.

METHODS12 CHB patients with transient virological response after lamivudine treatment, and 20 patients treated with adefovir for 5 years were recruited in this study. Serum samples were collected at four time points when HBV DNA fluctuated sharply during lamivudine treatment, and at 0, 8, 12, 28, 52, 104, 156, 208, 260 weeks following adefovir treatment. HBV DNA was quantified by real-time PCR, pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe titers of pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens were not correlated with the HBV DNA level in the serum of lamivudine treated patients. Only in one case of the adfovir treated patients, the decrease of pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens was in parallel with the decrease of HBV DNA. Linear regression analysis indicated that neither pre-S1 antigen nor pre-S2 antigen was correlated with HBV DNA in the serum of lamivudine or adfovir treated patients (P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur results indicate that the titers of pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens are not correlated with the serum HBV DNA in CHB patients undergoing nucleoside analogue therapy. Neither pre-S1 nor pre-S2 is a good predictor for the outcome of nucleoside analogue treatment.

DNA, Viral ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

The objective of this study was to assess the depression, PostTraumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) and its associated factors among the elderly flood victims in Tumpat, Kelantan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2015 in three villages in Tumpat, Kelantan. Face to face interviews were conducted using socio-demographic performa, Malay version Geriatric Depression Scale 14 (M-GDS 14), Malay version Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ) and flood-related questionnaires. Results: One hundred elderly respondents completed the study. The prevalence of depression and traumatic stress was 15.0% and 17.8%, respectively. The risk factors for depression are being female (Odds ratio [OR] = 5, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.27, 19.99), family history of mental illness (OR = 39.5, 95% CI: 1.41, 1063.08) and elderly with traumatic stress (OR= 5.38, 95% CI: 1.53, 18.9). There was significant correlation between depression and traumatic stress (r= 0.36, p<0.001). Conclusion: In the aftermath of a natural disaster, female and those who have PTSC are more likely to develop depression. It is suggested to expand this research to a bigger population as well as another flood affected states in Malaysia. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 17 (2): July – December 2016: XX XX.

For in vitro studies, both CD34+ selected cell and mononuclear cell (MNC) can be used to expand hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. To investigate the expansion characteristics of mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD34+ selected cells the two cell fractions were cultured in the medium containing cytokine cocktails of SCF + IL-3 + IL-6 + FL + Tpo. It was found that the CD34+ selected cells had presented a high proliferation potential. The expansion of CD34+ selected cells could be maintained for 8 weeks while that of MNCs declined after 4 weeks. During the culture period, the maximum expansion of total cells in CD34+ selected cell culture achieved 31,270.9 +/- 8640.5 times, while that of MNC reached 50.9 +/- 8.2 times only. In the culture of MNCs, the colony density and the proportion of CD34+ cells increased from day 0 to day 7. However, in the culture of CD34+ selected cells, both the colony density and the proportion of CD34+ cells declined continuously during the whole culture period. During the ex vivo culture of CD34+ selected cells, the maximum expansion of CFU-GM and CD34+ cells achieved 185.7 +/- 14.1 fold and 191.7 +/- 188.8 fold, respectively. They are much higher than that of MNC, which were 12.4 +/- 3.2 fold and 50.6 +/- 33.2 fold only. While the BFU-E of both cell fractions only expanded by few times, which were 7.2 +/- 5.2 and 10.1 +/- 3.4 times, respectively. The results showed that the CD34+ selected cells culture could obtain more CFU-GM cells and CD34+ cells during the whole culture period.
Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Cell Count ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; physiology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology