[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short-term efficacy of Eustachian tube balloon dilation (ETBD) in the treatment of symptomatic Eustachian tube dysfunction (SETD) by subjective and objective analysis.METHODS Forty patients who underwent ETBD were included. Subjects’ inclusion criteria were as followed: symptoms of ETD (aural fullness predominantly, with or without otalgia, muffle hearing and tinnitus), normal tympanic membrane, type A or C tympanograms, and without a history of any middle ear diseases. Main outcomes including subjective improvement, otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry, impedance audiometry, R-value in tubomanometry (TMM) and Eustachian Tube Score (ETS) were assessed 1 week and 6 months postoperatively.RESULTSAll cases were dilated successfully. A significant effect of treatment was documented when measuring subjective improvement, impedance audiometry, R-value in TMM and ETS 1 week and 6 month postoperatively. Subjective symptoms were not relieved only in one patient. The overall success rate for all patients was 98%.CONCLUSIONETBD can provide short-term benefits to those who are diagnosed with SETD and refractory to medical management. SETD might be an optimal indication for ETBD in the treatment of ETD.

Purpose To investigate the expression of VEGF, NRP1 and the cancer stem cell marker CD44 in gastric carcinoma and their correlations. Methods High throughput technology of tissue microarray and immunohistochemical SP method were employed to investigate the expression of VEGF, NRP1 and CD44 proteins in 72 gastric carcinoma specimens and 52 normal gastric tissues. Immu-nohistochemistry records were reviewed, their correlations and the clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated. Results ( 1 ) The positive rates of VEGF, NRP1 and CD44 proteins were 76. 4%, 66. 7%, and 83. 3% in gastric carcinoma, respectively, with sig-nificant differences from normal gastric tissues (P<0. 01). (2) The positive expression of VEGF and NRP1 were closely correlated with infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P<0. 05). The positive expression of CD44 was closely correlated with Lauren type, differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P<0. 05). (3) In addition, the expression of CD44 was significantly correlated with VEGF and NRP1 in gastric carcinoma (rs =0. 578, rs =0. 278, rs =0. 316, P<0. 05). Conclusions VEGF, NRP1 and the cancer stem cell marker CD44 are highly expressed in gastric cancer, which are closely related to the biological behaviors of gastric cancer. Synergistic effects are observed between VEGF and NRP1, and they are closely related to the expression of the cancer stem cell marker CD44, which remains to be further studied.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Eustachian tube balloon dilation (ETBD) in treatment of eustachian tube related diseases. METHOD: Fifteen cases (20 ears) of otitis media with effusion and 22 cases (30 ears) of symptomatic Eustachian tube dysfunction were recruited. Technique of tubomanometry (TMM) showed obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction in all patients. All the patients were received ETBD and followed up with VAS evaluation of ear fullness, muffled hearing, poping sound in the ear and tinnitus. And also the TMM change and middle ear effusion. RESULT: Ear fullness, muffled hearing released with 1 week (ear fullness: 8.2 ± 1.4 vs. 2.0 ± 1.2, P < 0.05, muffled hearing: 6.2 ± 1.2 vs. 3.1 ± 0.8, P < 0.05). No recurrence was seemed within 6 months. The eustachian function test turned better. Symptomatic Eustachian tube dysfunction had an effective rate of 96.6% while otitis media with effusion was 95.0%. CONCLUSION ETBD have good short-term effect in obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction related middle ear dysfunction, which might provide a good way to solve the eustachian tube related diseases.
Catheterization ; Ear Diseases ; Ear, Middle ; Eustachian Tube ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; Recurrence

Objective To assess the effectiveness of Z-axis automatic tube current modulation ( ATCM) technique with respect to dose reduction and image noise in the thyroid regional tissues during neck computed tomography angiography (CTA). Methods A total of 140 patients underwent neck CTA with 64-slice spiral CT, and were randomized into fixed-tube current group and ATCM group. Objective noise, CTDIw, DLP and mA of each group were recorded. Results The image qualities of all the patients were diagnostically acceptable, though the objective noise of neck in the ATCM group was higher than that in the group of fixed-tube current (P＜ 0.05 ). The radiation doses in the ATCM group [ CTDIw (35.99±1.31 ) mGy, DLP (11 121.39 ±5.51) mGy·cm] were significantly inferior to those in the group of fixed tube current [ CTDIw (43.22±1.42) mGy, DLP (1514.45±5.56) mGy·cm]. Conclusions Compared with fixedtube current technique, ATCM technique could significantly reduce the radiation dose in neck CT with diagnostic acceptability of the image quality.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of the dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters of diffuse spinal bone marrow infiltration in patients with hematological malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of the lumbar spine was performed in 26 patients with histologically proven diffuse bone marrow infiltration, including multiple myeloma (n = 6), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 6), acute myeloid leukemia (n = 5), chronic myeloid leukemia (n = 7), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 2). Twenty subjects whose spinal MRI was normal, made up the control group. Peak enhancement percentage (Emax), enhancement slope (ES), and time to peak (TTP) were determined from a time-intensity curve (TIC) of lumbar vertebral bone marrow. A comparison between baseline and follow-up MR images and its histological correlation were evaluated in 10 patients. The infiltration grade of hematopoietic marrow with plasma cells was evaluated by a histological assessment of bone marrow. RESULTS: Differences in Emax, ES, and TTP values between the control group and the patients with diffuse bone marrow infiltration were significant (t = -11.51, -9.81 and 3.91, respectively, p < 0.01). Emax, ES, and TTP values were significantly different between bone marrow infiltration groups Grade 1 and Grade 2 (Z = -2.72, -2.24 and -2.89 respectively, p < 0.05). Emax, ES and TTP values were not significantly different between bone marrow infiltration groups Grade 2 and Grade 3 (Z = -1.57, -1.82 and -1.58 respectively, p > 0.05). A positive correlation was found between Emax, ES values and the histological grade of bone marrow infiltration (r = 0.86 and 0.84 respectively, p < 0.01). A negative correlation was found between the TTP values and bone marrow infiltration histological grade (r = -0.54, p < 0.01). A decrease in the Emax and ES values was observed with increased TTP values after treatment in all of the 10 patients who responded to treatment (t = -7.92, -4.55, and 5.12, respectively, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: DCE-MRI of spine can be a useful tool in detecting diffuse marrow infiltration of hematological malignancies, while its parameters including Emax, ES, and TTP can reflect the malignancies' histological grade.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Neoplasms/pathology ; Child ; Contrast Media/*diagnostic use ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA/diagnostic use ; Hematologic Neoplasms/*pathology ; Humans ; Image Enhancement/methods ; Leukemia/*pathology ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders/*pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Observer Variation ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Neoplasms/*pathology ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of gabapentin(GBP) on plasma β-endorphin(β-EP) level in the patients with painful diabetic neuropathy(PDN). Methods We detected the plasma β-EP level in 24 PDN patients in the treatment with GBP, 18 PDN patients without GBP treatment, 20 diabetic mellitus patients without PDN and 24 healthy control subjects. Results (1)The level of β-EP in diabetic mellitus patients was lower than in the healthy control(P<0.01). (2)The patients who received GBP had a significant change of β-EP level after treatment(P<0. 01).. Conclusions Gabapentin is effective for the treatment of PDN and its adverse effects are mild. It can lower the plasma β-EP level in the patients with PDN.

In this paper, with B/S application and architecture, an integrated solution of PACS is designed, and the function and application of each part of PACS based on the architecture is introduced. The PACS based on this mode is safe, stable, easy to manage and upgrade and convenient for use in telemedicine.
Computer Systems ; Humans ; Radiology Information Systems ; Research ; Software ; Telemedicine

Objective To evaluate the characteristics of leptomeningeal metastasis of gliomas on magnetic resonance(MR) imaging and to provide evidence for clinical early diagnosis and treatment.Methods Twenty-one cases of intracranial gliomas with leptomeningeal metastases were scanned with conventional spin echo(SE) and fast spin echo(TSE),8 cases with fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR),and all of cases were operated with enhancement.Results ⑴ With MR plain scan,18 cases revealed vary range of distortion and illegibility structure of cerebral cistern and sulcus,and 6 cases revealed the asymmetrical enhancement of the wall of ventricle.Eleven meningeal neoplasms nodes were found in subarachnoid space in 7 cases,and some of the appearances could be seen in several cases.Eight cases of them were added with FLAIR,and the neoplasms nodes were showed more clearly and higher signal than TSE-T2W imaging.⑵ With MR enhancement,all cases with encephalic gliomas showed obvious enhancement with vary features of the enhancement of leptomeningeal metastasis,including tail sign(5/21),line sign(10/21),strip sign(3/21),node sign(7/21) and a few of cases included two signs.Conclusion It was very important for clinician to improve the cognition of MR imaging characteristics of leptomeningeal metastases of glioma,and to choose the proper MR imaging scan technique to increase the detection rate of early meningeal diseases.

Objective:To evaluate fixation effect of intermaxillary fixation screw.Methods:63 cases with mandibular fractures were treated with open reduction,and then internal fixation were managed with intermaxillary fixation using dental arch splint or intermaxillary fixation screw randomly.The operation time,postoperation periodontal index,mouth open degree,occluding relation and fracture healing were compared.Results:There was no significant difference upon occluding relation,fracture healing and mouth open degree under two treatment methods.Compared with dental arch splint fixation method,intermaxillary fixation screw had shorter operation time and better periodontal index.Conclusion:Intermaxillary fixation screw is a good intermaxillary fixation method because of short operation time.Furthermore,it can provide enough traction retention strength and easy to maintain oral hygiene.

Objective:To evaluate the possibility of prevention of Frey's syndrome by reservation and reconstruction of parotid fascia in parotidectomy.Methods:Parotidectomy with parotid fascia reservation and reconstruction was conducted in 31 cases. 12 months-12 years after operation the patients were examined by Minor test.Result:Positive reaction of Minor test was observed in 3 out of the 31 cases(9.67%).Conclusion:A parotidectomy with reservation and reconstruction of parotid fascia can efficiently prevent Frey's syndrome.