Prenatal diagnosis of horseshoe kidney by measurement of the renal pelvic angle.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of measurement of the angle between bilateral renal pelves on axial views in the prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of horseshoe kidney. METHODS: We retrospectively measured the renal pelvic angle in 19 fetuses with horseshoe and 20 fetuses with normal kidneys in the second and third trimesters. Renal pelvic angle was defined as the angle between the long axis of the renal pelves on the axial view of the abdomen. We compared the renal pelvic angles of horseshoe and normal kidneys with unpaired t-test. Taking 140 degrees as a cut-off value, we calculated the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of pelvic angle measurement for the prenatal diagnosis of horseshoe kidney. RESULTS: The mean pelvic angles in the fetuses with horseshoe kidney were 116 degrees and 110 degrees in the second and third trimester, respectively. In the normal fetuses, the equivalent angles were 172 degrees and 161 degrees. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Using 140 degrees as the discriminating criterion, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of renal pelvic angle measurement for the prenatal diagnosis of horseshoe kidney were all 100%. Fifteen of 19 fetuses with horseshoe kidney had no other abnormality. Four (21%) fetuses had severe complex abnormalities which were associated with trisomy 18 in three cases. CONCLUSION: Observation and measurement of the renal pelvic angle is a simple and useful method in the prenatal diagnosis of the horseshoe kidney.     

110例胃癌外科治疗分析

目的　探讨胃癌外科治疗的现状。方法　对我院 2002 年 5 月~2004 年 7 月收治并手术治疗的胃癌 110 例的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果　110 例胃癌中,手术切除 101 例(91 .82%),其中根治性切除91例,姑息性切除10 例;远侧胃切除 78 例(77 .23%),近侧胃切除 7 例(6 .93%),全胃切除16例(15 .84%);行消化道重建的 104 例中,手法吻合 13 例(12 5%),单吻合器67例(66. 42%),双吻合器 24 例(23. 08%)。术后病理早期癌 9 例(8. 18%),进展期胃癌共 101 例(91 .82%)。术前肠外营养支持5~7天14例(12. 73%),术后行肠道营养86 例(85 15%),肠外营养90例(89 .11%)。手术死亡1例(0 .9%),12例发生术后近期并发症(9. 09%)。结论　胃癌患者早期诊断仍困难,但手术切除率及根治性切除率较以前明显升高,吻合器使用明显增加,有助于降低近期并发症发生率并提高肿瘤治疗的效果。需长时间营养支持时肠内营养较肠外营养更容易维持内环境稳定。     

Burning mouth syndrome as a trigeminal small fibre neuropathy: Increased heat and capsaicin receptor TRPV1 in nerve fibres correlates with pain score.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is often an idiopathic chronic and intractable pain condition, affecting 1.5-5.5% of middle-aged and elderly women. We have studied the heat and capsaicin receptor TRPV1, and its regulator nerve growth factor (NGF), in BMS. Patients with BMS (n=10) and controls (n=10) were assessed for baseline and post-topical capsaicin pain scores, and their tongue biopsies immunostained for TRPV1, NGF, and structural nerve markers neurofilament and peripherin. Nerve fibres penetrating the epithelium were less abundant in BMS (p<0.0001), indicating a small fibre neuropathy. TRPV1-positive fibres were overall significantly increased in BMS (p=0.0011), as were NGF fibres (p<0.0001) and basal epithelial cell NGF staining (p<0.0147). There was a significant correlation between the baseline pain score and TRPV1 (p=0.0143) and NGF fibres (p=0.0252). A significant correlation was observed between baseline and post-capsaicin pain (p=0.0006). Selective TRPV1 and NGF blockers may provide a new therapy for BMS.