Objective To investigate the gender difference in the smile aesthetic features in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion and its clinical significance.Methods Fifty-six aged Han Chinese (male:28,female:28,aged 60-66 years)with normal occlusion were included in this study.Smiling images of the resting-position and mandibular postural position were obtained in an anteriorposterior view.The CoSmileMAA1.0 software was used to evaluate the indices associated with the smile-aesthetic features,and its clinical significance was analyzed.Results Significant differences were noted in the nasal ala width,upper lip length,lip clearance,angle oris width in resting-position/ smiling position together with the changes of lip clearance,angle oris width,distance of inferior margin of upper lip to cutting edge of the maxillary incisor teeth,distance of superior border of lower lip to cutting edge of the maxillary incisor teeth,smile line ratio and type of smile (all P＜0.05).When the subjects were smiling,the changes of lip clearance was greater in females than in males [(10.7±1.9)mm vs.(11.3±1.6)mm,P＜0.05],the changes of angle oris width was greater in males than in females [(14.1±1.6)mm vs.(13.4±1.3)mm,P＜0.05],and the smile line ratio was less in males than in females [(0.9±0.2) vs.(1.1±0.5),P＜0.05],which indicate that the females had more attractive smile in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion than males.The type of smile was mainly high smile in elderly females and median smile in elderly males [53.6％ (15 cases) and 60.7％ (17 cases),x2 =6.43,P＜0.05].Conclusions Significant gender difference is noted in the smile-aesthetic features in aged Han Chinese with normal occlusion.Modulation of maxillary incisor teeth length and smile line ratio can contribute to the aesthetic appearance of smiling.

Objective To explore MRI features of struma ovarii (SO)and analyze the causes of misdiagnosis.Methods The MRI data of 5 patients with SO confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results The MRI features of SO were summarized as follows:(1)The lesions were often unilateral.(2)The maximal diameter was 3.6-13 cm and the volume was 37.8-854.1 cm3 .(3)The irregular shape was presented in 2 cases,round shape was presented in 2 cases,and superficial lobulated shape was presented in 1 case.(4)The boundary of the lesions was clear,and the adjacent organs were compressed without obvious inva-sion,there was 1 patient showing moderate ascites.(5 )The tumor was cystic or solid-cystic with various size,and capsular space showed homogeneous high,equal or low signal intensity on T1 WI and T2 WI.Irregular solid component and thick separation were be-tween capsular spaces.The wall,solid component,and separation showed significant contrast-enhancement.Conclusion Recognition of the MRI features of SO could improve the diagnostic accuracy and avoid misdiagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the effects of traditional Chinese medicine Xuebijing injection (血必净注射液) on tissue tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) expression and blood coagulation parameters in septic rats.Methods: Wistar rats were subjected to sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture(CLP).Ninety-six healthy rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group,sham operation group,CLP model group,and Xuebijing-treated group.The two latter groups were given respectively intravenous injection of normal saline or Xuebijing injection with the dose of 4 ml/kg at 0.5,12,24,36,48 and 60 hours after the establishment of CLP model.Eight rats were sacrificed at 2,8,24,48 and 72 hours postCLP in the two latter groups.Prothrombin time(PT),activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT),and fibrinogen(Fbg) levels were determined.Tissue TNF-? protein levels in liver and lung tissues were also measured at various intervals.Results: TNF-? protein levels in liver and lung tissues were significantly increased at 2 hours after establishment of CLP model compared with those of the normal group(both P

Aim To study the mechanism and inhibi-tory effect of Aescine on SGC-7901 cells in vitro.Methods MTT method was used to detect SGC-7901 proliferation.Flow cytometer method was used to determine cell cycles.AnnexinⅤ-FITC apoptosis derection kit was used to detect apoptosis of cells.Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of Bcl-2.Results MTT result showed that Aescine could significantly inhibit the growth of SGC-7901.AnnexinⅤ-FITC apoptosis derection kit and Western blot results suggested that Aescine could induce the apoptosis of SGC-7901.Conclusions Aescine can inhibit the growth of SGC-7901 and induce the apoptosis of cells in vitro.

Objective To investigate image quality and radiation dose of prospective ECG-gated coronary combined with carotid and cerebrovascular angiography and compare it with common coronary CTA and carotid-cerebrovascular CTA at a 256-slice spiral CT.Methods Fifty-seven patients were included in the study.The data was analyzed retrospectively and divided into 3 groups.Group 1 underwent coronary combined with carotid CTA ( n =17 ),which included a wide range of prospective ECG-gated coronary,carotid and cerebral vascular one-stop angiography.Group 2 underwent coronary CTA ( n =20),which was routine prospective ECG-gated coronary angiography.Group 3 underwent routine carotid and cerebrovascular CTA (n =20).Mean CT image attenuation and image noise were measured in the ascending aorta root,proximal parts of the bilateral common carotid artery and vertebral artery,and in the internal carotid artery at sellae level in the axial plane.Coronary artery image quality was rated using a four-point ordinal scale and carotid cerebral vascular image quality was rated using a three-point ordinal scale.Radiation dose were calculated.Mean CT image attenuation,image noise and radiation dose were compared among the 3 groups using t test.Using Mann-Whitney U,the coronary artery imaging quality was compared between group 1 and 2,and image quality of cerebral vessels was compared between group 1 and 3.Results Mean CT image attenuation [ (427 ±50) HU in group 1 and (426 ±86) HU in group 2] and image noise of the ascending aorta root [ (30 ± 9) HU in group 1 and (31 ± 9) HU in group 2 ] showed no statistical difference between group 1 and 2 (t =0.058,-0.325,P ＞0.05).There were no non-diagnosis coronary segments in group 1 and 2.And coronary segments with excellent or good image quality reached 98.1％ (202/206) in group 1 and 99.6％ ( 244/245 ) in group 2.It showed no significant difference between group 1 and 2 ( Z =-0.572,P ＞ 0.05 ).There were significant differences of mean CT image attenuation in the common carotid artery between group 1 [ ( 474 ± 70 ) HU ] and group 3 [ ( 348 ± 81 ) HU ],and in the vertebral artery between group 1 [(447 ±83)HU] and group 3 [(328 +66) HU] (t =5.043,4.869,P＜0.05).However,there was no significant difference of mean CT image attenuation in the internal carotid artery [ (370 ± 92) HU in group 1 and ( 367 ± 97 ) HU in group 3 ] ( t =0.111,P ＞ 0.05 ).There was a significant difference of image quality scores of carotid and cerebrovascular arteries between group 1 and 3 (Z =- 3.306,P ＜ 0.05 ).Effective radiation dose of groups 1,2,3 were ( 7.0 ± 0.8 ),( 3.1 ± 0.4 ) and (5.0 ± 0.3) mSv respectively.Conclusion The prospective ECG-gated coronary combined with carotid and cerebrovascular angiography is able to obtain diagnostic image quality of coronary,carotid and cerebral vascular at the 256-slice spiral CT.It is a simple,fast,noninvasive way to assess coronary and carotid cerebrovascular arteries,with advantages of less contrast medium and low radiation dose.

Objective To compare the image quality and patient radiation dose of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) received by prospectively-gated step-and-shoot (SAS) technique with those obtained by retrospectively-gated spiral (RGS) technique on a 256-slice CT scanner. Methods A total of 200 patients were enrolled in this study. One hundred patients underwent CCTA with SAS mode were subdivided into two groups: ( 1 ) 50 patients with an average heart rate (HR) ≤70 bpm were scanned with a data acquisition time window centered at the 75％ of the R-R cycle ( group A) and (2) 50 patients with HR ＞ 70 bpm were scanned with the data acquisition time window centered at the 45％ of the R-R cycle, including a phase tolerance of ±％ (group B). Other 100 patients underwent CCTA with RGS mode and ECG-based tube current modulation were also subdivided into two groups: (3) 50 patients with HR ≤70 bpm were scanned with cardiac dose right set to phase of 75％ (group C) and (4) 50 patients with HR ＞ 70 bpm were scanned with cardiac ose Rdight set to phases of 45％ and 75％ (group D). All patients were grouped in randomized order. The image quality of CCTA were evaluated using a rank scale from 1 to 4 ( 1 : excellent ; 4 : non-assessable ) .Radiation dose of the four groups received was also estimated. The image quality between groups was compared by Mann-Whitney U test.The radiation dose between groups was compared by t test. For the 100 patients received by prospective ECG-gated CCTA, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to analyze the CCTA image quality and average heart rate to determine the uppercutoff of HR for obtaining diagnostic coronary images with SAS mode. A spearman correlation analysis was also performed to analyze the correlation of HR and image quality in patients underwent CCTA with SAS mode.Results Of 2338 coronary artery segments, excellent or good image quality( score of 1 or 2) was achieved in 96. 5％ (585 of 606) in group A, 77.7％ (445 of 573 ) in B,96. 1％ (548 of 570) in C, and 85. 7％ (505/589) in D, with no significant difference for A vs C(Z ＝- 1. 351 ,P ＞0. 05) and with significant differenceS for B vs D (Z＝ -2. 236,P ＜0. 05). Linear correlation analysis indicated a significant degradation of image quality with the increase of heart rate using SAS mode (Spearman correlation, r ＝ 0. 577, P ＜0. 01 ). ROC analysis established an upper HR threshold of 78 bpm for obtaining diagnostic image quality using SAS mode( AUC ＝ 0. 827, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The average radiation dose in group A [ ( 2. 6 ± 0. 5 ) mSv]reduced 75 ％ comparing with that in group C [ ( 10. 6 ± 2. 3 ) mSy], and the average radiation dose in group B [ ( 4.0 ± 0. 7 ) mSy]reduced 69％ comparing with that in group D [ ( 13.0 ± 1. 4) mSv]. ConclusionUsing SAS mode to perform low-dose CCTA with 256-slice helical CT could keep the image quality and reduce radiation dose significantly. Our preliminary experience suggests a good promise of this technique which could be applied to a wider group of patients such as with higher heart rates.

Objective To evaluate the different methods of blood purification for acute septic renal injury (AKI) in respect of outcome by using RIFLE(risk,injury,failure,loss and end-stage renal disease)criteria and A-PACHE Ⅱ score. MethodData of 96 patients with ASRI admired to ICU of Tianhe Hospital, Tianjin, from March 2004 to September 2006 were analyzed. Including criteria: 2001 International Sepsis Definitions Conference and 2004 RIFLE criteria of AKI. The methods of blood purification used continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT, n=54) and imermittent hemodialysis (IHD, n=42).The patients of CRRT group could be classified into stages Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ referred to RIFLE criteria. Excel was evaluated to set up clinical data base from documented material. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 11. 5 software. Physical signs, laboratory findings, variation of APACHE Ⅱ score and outcomes of patients were documented evaluated. Data of two groups compared using indepent samples T test, before and after the treatment compared using paired-samples T test, rate compared using chi-square test. Results①There were no statistical differences in APACHE Ⅱ score and creatinine (Cr) between CRRT group and IHD group before treatment (P>0.05). The mortalities of CRRT group and IHD group were 51.9％ and 52.4％, respectively (P>0.05), but the recovery rates of renal function in CRRT group and IHD group were 92.3％ and 65.0％ ,respectively (P< 0.05).②Mean arterial pressure (MAP),oxygen saturation (SpO2) of CRRT group were lower than those of IHD group (P<0.05) and they increased to some extent after treatment (P< 0.05). ③In the patients of stag Ⅰ ,the survival rate was 78.6％, APACHE Ⅱ score was 25.4± 2.5 before treatment, renal function recovery rate was 90.9％ ,and APACHE Ⅱ changed - 13.6 ± 4.3, while those relevant markers in the patients of stage Ⅲ were 38.1％, 36.1 ± 5.7,62.5 ％ and - 7.1 ± 4.2, respectively (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe RIFLE criteria has guiding significance for the early diagnosis and prognosis of ASRI,and the RIFLE and APACHE Ⅲ score may help to choose the optimum opportunity of treatment and the early CRRT as soon as possible after diagnosis can improve the outcome of patients with acute septic renal injury.

The heart and kidney damage is a clinical disease commonly seen, the 2 organs can interact with each other as cause and effect, leading to a series of clinical symptoms which is the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). In 2008, according to the connection between the heart and kidney, the nephrologists Ronco, etc, completed the definition and classification of CRS, including type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ of CRS being acute cardiorenal syndrome (ACRS). ACRS refers to the fact that when the damage of heart or kidney dysfunction influences each other leading to a clinical syndrome caused by a sharp deterioration of cardiorenal function. At present, no definite diagnostic criteria for ACRS have yet been made. The pathogenesis of ACRS may be related to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), nitric oxide-reactive oxygen species (NO-ROS) system, inflammatory reaction, the excessive activation of sympathetic nervous system and so on. Clinically, about 50% of ACRS patients are accompanied by acute decompensated cardiorenal dysfunction or failure, that seriously impact on the patients' clinical prognosis and survival rate, so it is necessary to find an effective therapeutic regimen. At present, the treatments of ACRS have mainly the diuretic, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), angiotensin receptor inhibitor (ARB), β-receptor blocker, positive inotropic drugs, recombinant human erythropoietin, recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide, continuous blood purification (CBP) etc, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also has a certain effect for improving the clinical symptoms of ACRS patients. Now the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and combined treatment of TCM and western medicine for treatment of ACRS are summarized.