OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding therapy on chronic pelvic cavity pain syndrome differentiated as kidney deficiency and stagnation of damp heat, and explore the impacts on plasma P substance (SP), plasma beta-endorphin (β-EP).

METHODSOne hundred and eighty cases were randomly divided into a catgut embedding group (90 cases) and a western medication group (90 cases). In the western medication group, tamsulosin capsules 0. 2 mg were prescribed for oral administration, once a day; indometacin sustained release tablets, 25 mg, three times a day. Totally, the oral administration for 8 weeks was required. In the catgut embedding group, the acupoint catgut embedding therapy was applied to Qugu (CV 2), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhibian (BL 54), Huiyin (CV 1) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), once every two weeks; the treatment of 4 weeks made one session, and two sessions were required. Before and after treatment, TCM symptom score, NIH-CPSI (the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index) score, lecithin body numbers in prostatic fluid, score in SAS (self-rating anxiety scale), score in SDS (self-rating depression scale), the levels of SP and β-EP, etc. were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was assessed in the two groups.

RESULTS(1) Ten cases were dropped in either group. The total effective rate was 91. 25% (73/80) in the catgut embedding group, higher than 78. 75% (63/80) in the western medication group (P<0. 05). (2) After treatment, TCM symptom score, total score in NIH-CPSI, pain score and the scores in SAS and SDS were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 05). After treatment, TCM symptom score, total score and pain score in NIH-CPSI, and the scores in SAS and SDS in the catgut embedding group were both lower than those in the western medication group (all P<0. 05). (3) After treatment, the lecithin body numbers were both increased as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (both P<0. 05), and the result in the catgut embedding group was higher than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05). (4)After treatment, the SP level was lower than that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0. 05); the level of p-EP was increased as compared with that before treatment (both P<0. 05). The SP level in the catgut embedding group was lower than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05); the level of β-EP was higher than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut embedding therapy apparently relieves the clinical symptoms of chronic pelvic cavity pain syndrome differentiated as kidney deficiency and stagnation of damp heat as well as the condition of anxiety and depression, increases lecithin body numbers in prostatic fluid and β-EP level and reduces SP level.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Pelvic Pain ; etiology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Prostatic Diseases ; complications ; metabolism ; Young Adult ; beta-Endorphin ; metabolism

Objective To demonstrate the origin of the right inferior phrenic artery(RIPA) in normal and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients and provide valuable anatomical information for angiographers before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Methods Four hundred and forty consecutive patients including 133 HCC cases who had biphase abdominal CT were assessed in this study.The routine abdominal enhanced CT scan(GE,LightSpeed16) was performed with 120 kV,200—240 mAs,10 mm collimation,1.375 pitch,and 10 mm reconstruction interval at 22—25 seconds for arterial phase triggered by timing bolus,60 seconds for portal venous phase after injection of 100 ml contrast material(300 mg I/ml) at a rate of 3.5 ml/s.Multiplanar reconstruction(MPR) and maximum intensity projection(MIP) images were generated using 1.25 mm images reconstructed with 1 mm interval in arterial phase and reviewed by two radiologists.An enhanced artery medial-posterior to the IVC,originated from aorta or its branches to the diaphragmatic dome was interpreted as the RIPA.Results The RIPA was showed in all(440 patients)(100%).Among 218(49.5%) RIPAs originated from the aorta,140 were from the right side of the aorta,22 from the left side of the aorta,56 from the anterior wall of the aorta,36 RIPAs had the same origin with the left inferior phrenic artery.Among 138(31.4%) RIPAs from the celiac artery,10 RIPAs had the same origin with the left gastric artery,and 33 RIPAs had the same origin with the left inferior phrenic artery.78(17.7%) were from the right renal artery,6(1.4%) were from the left gastric artery(the left gastric artery from aorta).The dilatation of the RIPA was demonstrated in 16 of(133 hepatocellular) carcinoma patients.Conclusion Multislice helical CT could demonstrate the origin of the RIPA in arterial phase and provide useful anatomical information for angiographer before and after TACE.

0.05) and CT values of mesenteric panniculitis on unenhanced scan were significantly higher than those of the same patients′retroperitoneal fat(-91——115 HU)(P

0.05); mean transit time was significantly lower but permeability surface area product higher than benign nodules (P 0.05). ③If the mean transit time ≤ 7 s was selected as cut-off value for malignant lesion, the sensitivity was 68.97%, specificity was 66.67%, accuracy was 68.49%, positive predict value was 88.89%, and negative predict value was 35.71%. When permeability surface area product ≥ 0.20 was selected as the cut-off value for malignant lesion, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predict value, and negative predict value were 86.21%, 53.33%, 79.45%, 87.72%, and 50.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CT perfusion imaging is a valuable method for assessing the physiological state of solitary pulmonary nodules.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of multislice helical CT(MSCT) in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease Methods 30 patients were studied with MSCT CT data were reconstructed to demonstrate the abnormalities of coronary artery and the results were compared with that of angiography Results In patients with heart rate less than 60 BPM, there was no difference to show the main branch of left coronary artery and left descending artery compared with more than 60 BPM( P =0 197 and 0 128,Fisher′exact);and obvious differences in showing left circumflex artery (? 2=5 88, P

Objective To present the multislice helical CT (MSCT) and chest radiographic findings of congenital bronchial atresia (CBA) in order to improve the diagnosis of CBA.Methods Eleven patients with CBA, who had histological results in 3 cases, bronchoscopy in 6 cases and more than 1 year follow-up in 2 cases, underwent MSCT with 10 mm slice thickness. 1.25 mm thickness images with 1 mm reconstruction interval were performed on 16-slice helical CT, and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP) and minimum intensity projection (MinIP) were made at a dedicated workstation. The involved segment of lung, shape of bronchocele and hyperinflation around bronchocele were recorded. Results On CT findings, all 11 patients demonstrated bronchocele and peripheral emphysematous changes which were shown in 8 cases on chest radiographs. An air-fluid level within the bronchocele was seen in 3 cases by MSCT and 2 by chest radiographs. The segmental bronchus was affected in 10 cases and the subsegmental in 1 case. 3 CBAs were in the left and 8 in the right. 6 patients with CBA presented a rounded, branching opacity emanating from the hilum and 5 were seen as a peripheral nodule. Conclusion The presence of a bronchocele and surrouding emphysematous change is the typical radiologic finding of CBA. MSCT can provide more information than X-ray chest radiograph for the diagnosis of CBA.

Objeetive To analyze the attenuation differences of left yentricular myocardium on 64-slice CT coronary artery angiography in adults.Methods of 1130 consecutive patients,119 patients (65 males,54 females,ranged from 27 to 83 years with mean age of 52 years)with no stenosis or stenosis less than 25% in the left anterior descending arteries were enrolled.The standard axial image with 3mm slice thickness just below the aorta valve was selected for measttrement.The regions of interest(0.1 cm× 0.1 cm)in posterior interventricular septum(septal P),anterior interventricular septum(septal A),apex,anterior free wall and posterior free wall of the left ventricle were selected within the myocardium and the mean CT value wag measured.A paired Student t test was used for the comparison of CT values in different areas,P value under 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results The megn attenuafion of the apical region(69.9±15.5)HU was lower than that of septal A(91.9±15.1)HU(t=11.060,P＜0.01)and anterior free wall(79.7±16.9)HU(t=4.639,P＜0.01),the mean attenuation in septal(93.8±14.8)HU and posterior free wall(88.0±14.3)HU showed relatively higher values.The myocardial intensity attenuation presented as a U-shape in the left ventricular myoeardium. Conclusions The mean attenuation in the left ventrieular myoeardium demonstrates as U-shape during the coronary artery angiography examination in normal adults.This can be helpful for iudging the extent of myocardial infarctiotr.

Objective To evaluate the effect of quick injection combining with slow infusion of Gd-DTPA on T1 relaxation of the blood. Methods Fifteen volunteers were recruited for coronary MRA study using a navigator-gated 3D-FIESTA sequence. Coronary MRA were acquired on the same segments two times at 5 minutes and 15 minutes after Gd-DTPA administration. Contrast agent was injected biphasically with 10 ml at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/s and 20 ml at 0. 05 ml/s to prolong the T1 relaxation effect. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated pre- and post-contrast MRA. Image quality was compared using t-test. Results The SNR and CNR at 5 minutes after contrast injection (35.37 ±6. 84 and 21.57 ± 6. 08 ) were significantly higher than that of pre-contrast MRA ( 27.38 ± 6. 24 and 13.19 ±6. 50). The SNR at 15 minutes after contrast injection (33. 81 ±9. 43) was higher than that of precontrast MRA, but there was no statistically difference(t = 1. 885 ,P =0. 074). The CNR at 15 minutes after contrast injection (21.20 ± 7.65) was significantly higher than that of pre-contrast MRA. The SNR and CNR at 15 minutes after contrast injection were no significant different compared with those at 5 minutes after contrast injection. Conclusion T1-shorting effect in the blood can be prolonged by quick injection combining with slow infusion of Gd-DTPA ,which meet with the need of multiple scans of coronary MRA.

Objective To get a MR imaging protocol for coronary arterial wall in vitro. Methods MR examinations were performed in 10 fresh porcine hearts. Three dimensional fast imaging employing steady state acquisition (3D FIESTA) was used to delineate left anterior descending artery (LAD), while 2D spin-echo T1W was performed with 8-channel head surface coil, temporomandibular surface coil and knee coil with the same parameters. T1WI was obtained with 384×256 and 512×512 in matrix using temporomandibular surface coil, and then T1WI, PDW and T2WI with fat saturation were obtained with different NEX using temporomandibular surface coil after injecting Resovist in LAD. Signal of the LAD wall, lumen, fat tissue adjacent to LAD, myocardium of anterior part of interventricular septum and noise were respectively measured. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of image, contrast to noise ratio (CNR) between the wall and lumen (CNR1), CNR between the wall and surrounding fatty tissue (CNR2) were calculated. Results The SNR and CNR1, CNR2 of SE T1WI with temporomandibular coil were higher than those with 8-channel head surface coil and knee coil. SNR and CNR1, CNR2 of SE T1WI with 384×256 matrix were higher than those with 512×512 matrix. SNR and CNR1, CNR2 using 3 NEX were the highest. Conclusion Good SNR and CNR of porcine coronary wall can be achieved using temporomandibular surface coil, 384×256 in matrix and NEX of 3.

Objective To determine the correlation between coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and carotid calcification, and their risk factors. Methods 162 cases underwent coronary and carotid pre-contrast CT scan with dual-source CT scanner within 2 weeks. The reconstructed parameters were the same. The calcifications of coronary and carotid arteriae were quantified by calculating the Agatston score. The main risk factors such as age, sex, hypertension, total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), diabetes, smoking and coronary heart disease history were recorded. The CACS and carotid calcium scores were comparatively analyzed using Spearman's correlative analysis. The relativity between the risk factors and CACS scores, carotid calcium scores. Results In 162 subjects, there was positive relativity between CACS and carotid cal-cium score(r=0.690, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that CACS were of relativity with age, diabetes, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol,otherwise, carotid calcium scores only with age and diabetes. Conclusion There is significant correlation be-tween CACS and carotid calcium score, but their risk factors are not same.