BACKGROUND: Thoracic outlet syndrome can be divided into nervous system type and vascular type according to different compressed structure. Nervous system type has typical clinic manifestations,physical signs,radiological evidence and electromyogram variation. So,there is wide prospect for clinic application about evaluation of compression of nerve in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome by electrophysiological examination.OBJECTIVE: To study diagnostic significance of electrophysiological examination to thoracic outlet syndrome.DESIGN: A completed and randomized research based on patients.SETTING: An electrophysiological department in a municipal hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients diagnosed as thoracic outlet syndrome were collected in Neurology and Neurosurgery Department,Hand Surgery Department and Clinic of Dalian Central Hospital from April 1998 to July2002,in which there were 5 males and 15 females,aged 31 -67,average46.0 years,with course of 2 - 7 years,average 4.5 years.METHODS: Nerve conduction velocity,wave amplitude and corresponding muscular needle electrode electromyogram(EMG) of median nerve,ulnar nerve,interior and exterior cutaneous nerve in forearm,suprascapular nerve,axillary nerve,musculocutaneous nerve,radial nerve were tested by keypoint myoelectricity evoked potential equipment made in Denmark.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The results of nerve electrophysiological examination.RESULTS: The type of compression of nerve trunk manifested as slower sensory and motor conduction velocity of nerve dominated by corresponding trunk across axillary section,lower wave amplitude and loss of nerve of corresponding muscle.CONCLUSION: Nerve electrophysiological examination is of important significance to diagnose thoracic outlet syndrome.

Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; physiology ; High-Frequency Ventilation ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Somatosensory Cortex ; physiology

Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Risk Assessment

Objective To investigate the feasibility and effects of minimally invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy(MIVAP)for parathyroid adenoma or cyst.Methods A 2 cm skin transverse incision was made above the suprasternal notch.Without gas insufflation,a cavity was built with retractors.Under endoscopic assistance,parathyroidectomy was performed by using a harmonic scalpel(3 cases of nonfunctioning parathyroid cyst and 7 cases of parathyroid adenoma accompanying hyperparathyroidism).Results The operation was successfully accomplished in all the 10 cases,without conversions to open surgery.The operative time was 20～70 min(mean,40 min).No hoarseness,choking cough,or hemorrhage occurred.A transient hypocalcemia developed in 3 cases.All the patients were followed for 2～18 months(mean,9 months),with satisfactory curative and cosmetic results.Conclusions Minimally invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy appears to be a safe and effective treatment with good cosmetic results and postoperative outcomes.

Tobacco control research is of great significance in tobacco control.However, there are not many studies related to tobacco control policies and practices in China.This paper proposes research directions in six different aspects of MPOWER strategies which aimed to reduce the demand for tobacco, with regard to monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies, protecting people from second-hand smoking, offering help to quit smoking, warning about the dangers of tobacco, enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, as well as raising tobacco taxes.The suggestions provide reference for future research in the field of tobacco control.

Catechols ; urine ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; urine

Objective To define the indications and evaluate the results of various surgical treatment options in patients with nonparasitic hepatic cysts. Methods The clinical data of 284 patients with nonparasitic hepatic cysts treated in our hospital from January 1995 to December 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Percutaneous aspiration and sclerotherapy were performed in 161 cases and complications occurred in 9 (5.59%), recurrence in 53 (32.92%) and the mortality was 0%.Open surgery was conducted in 71 cases and the complications occurred in 16 (22.54%), recurrence in 8 cases (11.27%) and the mortality was 2.82%. Laparoscopic surgery was employed in 52 cases and complications occurred in 7 ( 13.46%), recurrence in 6 (11.54%) and the mortality was 1.92%.Conclusion There is currently no general agreement in the literature concerning when nonparasitic hepatic cysts should be treated. Laparoscopic surgery was more favorable than other therapeutic options.However, we should choose individually suitable methods according to different clinical symptom of patients.

The effects of pioglitazone on the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1 α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in renal tissues of diabetic rats were observed. Diabetic rat model was established by feeding high-carbonhydrate-fat diet and injecting streptozotocin. After the treatment with pioglitazone, the kidney index, 24 h urinary albumin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol,triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol of diabetic rats were significantly lower than those of untreated ones, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was increased, the expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in renal tissue were decreased ( all P＜0. 01 ). It suggested that pioglitazone may improve renal function and the balance of glucose-lipid metabolism in diabetic rats via down-regulating HIF-1/VEGF pathway.

Preventive medicine is a required course for students majoring in clinical medicine, which is essential for them to understand public health. Teaching teams of Fudan University have focused on the curriculum reform of preventive medicine and kept innovating with the aim of improving the competence of future doctors. Flipped classroom approach was adopted to promote interaction between teachers and students. In addition, a variety of practice sectors were integrated into teaching process, such as diet calculation through graph cards, health risk appraisal practice, hospital visiting. In addition, a 4-weeks community-based practice further strengthened students' understandings of public health in the real world. Much attention was on cultivate scientific spirit, humanity and the capability to serve the people. A multi-dimension, whole-process evaluation is applied and the results shows that the students' comprehensive ability and literacy are significantly improved.

Objective To explore the methods of tobacco control through interactive sitcoms and evaluate its impact on audience in their empathy, knowledge acquisition and behavior, providing basis for health communication activities in relation to tobacco control. Methods Relevant knowledge and skills on tobacco control were integrated into the drama, which ran for 8 performances in Shanghai.Four of them were randomly selected for evaluation.All the audience were invited to complete a questionnaire. Results Over 90% of the audience gave affirmation to the design, performance and interaction of the drama.More than 70% smokers established their supportive attitude for smoke free environment.Audience who preferred interactive activities (OR=8.72, 95%CI:3.16-24.09) had higher education level (OR=2.10, 95%CI:1.06-4.14), and more empathy on roles (OR=6.63, 95%CI:2.38-18.51) thought psycho-scene drama had more effect than traditional ways on tobacco control.Smokers were curious to know the ending of the story (OR=3.90, 95%CI:1.73-8.79), wanted to learn more ways to discourage smoking (OR=4.00, 95%CI:1.88-8.49) and thought psycho-scene drama had more effect than traditional ways in this regard (OR=7.03, 95%CI:2.58-19.18).They came to have a stronger will to discourage smoking. Conclusion Psycho-scene drama proves to be a feasible way in tobacco control communication with a good effect on knowledge communication and behavior change.