Dose-rate scaling factor estimation of THOR BNCT test beam.

In 1998, an epithermal neutron test beam was designed and constructed at the Tsing Hua Open-Pool Reactor (THOR) for the purpose of preliminary dosimetric experiments in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). A new epithermal neutron beam was designed at this facility, and is currently under construction, with clinical trials targeted in late 2004. Depth dose-rate distributions for the THOR BNCT test beam have been measured by means of activation foil and dual ion chamber techniques. Neutron and structure-induced gamma spectra measured at the test beam exit were configured into a source function for the Monte Carlo-based treatment planning code NCTPlan. Dose-rate scaling factors (DRSFs) were determined to normalize computationally derived dose-rate distributions with experimental measurements in corresponding mathematical and physical phantoms, and to thus enable accurate treatment planning using the NCTPlan code. A similar approach will be implemented in characterizing the new THOR epithermal beam in preparation for clinical studies. This paper reports the in-phantom calculated and experimental dosimetry comparisons and derived DRSFs obtained with the THOR test beam.     

Health-related quality of life in Taiwanese patients with bronchial asthma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is primarily an assessment of how domains of life are affected by health. This study investigated the factors influencing HRQOL of Taiwanese patients with bronchial asthma. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the factors influencing HRQOL. The sample consisted of 242 outpatients with bronchial asthma. The Chinese language version of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire was used to measure HRQOL. Data were analyzed using simple regression and multiple regression. RESULTS: Age, marital status, level of education, asthma severity, peak expiratory flow, and previous hospital admissions were found to be predictors of HRQOL. Gender, duration of disease, and history of emergency visits were not correlated with HRQOL. The variables entered in the HRQOL model accounted for 17.4% of the total variance (adjusted R(2)). The regression coefficients indicated that the mean scores increased 7.68 in patients with moderate to severe disease severity, and increased 7.34 in patients with a history of hospital admissions. The mean scores decreased 7.60 in married patients. CONCLUSION: This study found that marital status, asthma severity, and history of hospital admissions were major predictors of HRQOL in Taiwanese patients with bronchial asthma.     

数字减影子宫输卵管造影术

目的:介绍和评价数字减影与自动高压注射器联合应用于子宫输卵管造影(HSG)。方法:自行设计造影用硅胶管使之能与自动高压注射器相联接,用40%泛影葡胺和数字减影方法作造影;随机抽取常规透视点片碘油造影片44份,数字减影泛影葡胺造影片50份进行对照分析。结果:两组比较:清晰度宫腔无显著性差异(P>0.05),输卵管有显著性差异(P<0.05);输卵管通畅率、血管或(和)淋巴管回流率有显著性差异(P<0.05)。盆腔涂布无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:采用数字减影与高压注射器行子宫输卵管造影能提高造影质量。     

Effects of chelating agents on the rheological property of cervical mucus

As an ongoing effort to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the calcium-dependent fertility regulation process, the viscoelastic properties of the mucus obtained from lamb cervix and human semen, as well as their water and total protein contents after exposure to EDTA, a chelating agent, or Nonoxynol-9 (N-9), a spermicidal agent, were examined. The viscosity was measured using a Cone Plate Digital Viscometer, while the water and total protein contents were determined by the lyophilization process and the Lowry method, respectively. The significant changes in the rheological properties of mucus, such as its viscosity and the water content, upon exposure to EDTA were demonstrated. The viscosity of cervical mucus and human semen were significantly increased by EDTA treatment (as compared to the controls): lamb cervical mucus (2.9 ± 0.3 vs. 2.2 ± 0.3 cps) and human semen (5.0 ± 0.3 vs. 4.3 ± 0.3 cps), respectively. The hydration rate was decreased by EDTA treatment as compared with the control (93.6 ± 0.7 vs. 96.8 ± 0.8%). Among tested samples, the reduction in the percentage of sperm penetration through the cervical mucus was the highest in the mucus containing EDTA, which had the lowest water content (93.6 ± 0.7%), indicating that there is a positive relationship between the hydration rate of the cervical mucus and its ability to permit the penetration of spermatozoa. This result indicates that spermicidal activity exerted by high concentrations of EDTA is in part due to its effect on the rheological properties of cervical mucus or semen.     

增龄过程中心脏径限的变化及其影响因素

为探讨年龄增长及伴随的一些生理性变化对心脏径限的影响,对300余例20—81岁(平均46±16岁)的正常成人进行了超声心动图研究。多元逐步回归及协方差分析表明,左室壁厚度随年龄俱增,而左室舒张未期内径变化不大;室间隔/左室后壁厚度比值亦渐有增长,反映了室间隔的随龄增长稍快于左室后壁,故在增龄过程中,左室流出道稍有缩小;左房、主动脉根部和右室内径均有随年龄而增长的变化。二尖瓣舒张期 EF 斜率随年龄增长渐有下降,可能反映了左室顺应性的降低及二尖瓣弹性的减退。此外,一些心脏测值有性别差异,不少径限尚与体格大小或血压水平有相关关系。对于不同年龄组间心脏径限差异的原因,以及心脏径限彼此间的关系进行了分析和讨论,认为在临床上评价心脏径限正常与否和异常程度时,应考虑年龄、性别、体格大小、血压等因素的影响。     

Biliary germiculture and antibiotic susceptibility test in biliary tract infection patients and the selection of antibiotics

Objective To survey the biliary pathogenic bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics in biliary tract infection patients. Methods The data of 326 strains of pathogen isolated from the positive bile culture during January 2004 to December 2005 and their sensitivity to antibiotics were statistically analyzed by WHONET 5.3. Results A total of 326 strains were identified including 176 Gram negative strains （54%, 176/326）,     

SOME ANATOMICAL DATA RELATED TO THE TRANSNASO- SPHENOIDAL RESECTION OF PITUITARY FOSSA TUMORS

Since the beginning of this century, trans- naso-sphenoidal resection of the pituitary fossa tumors has been widely used clinically. It has more merits than other operative approaches used before. In China it has been adopted by both ENT doctors and neurosurgeons since 1959.1 In order to afford some relevant anatomical data, we measured 137 adult sagittal plane skulls with distinct landmarks.     

Distribution of rat facial motoneurons and its reorganization following nerve reinnervation]

OBJECTIVE: To examine the distribution of rat facial motoneurons contributing different branches under normal situation and when nerve reinnervation occurred following facial nerve axotomy. METHODS: The normal distribution of motoneurons innervated both buccal and marginal mandibular branches and its reorganization after facial nerve reinnervation was observed using retrograde labeling with fluorescein. RESULTS: Under normal situation, the motoneurons contributing buccall and marginal mandibular branches were primarily distributed in the intermedial and lateral subnucleus in facial nucleus and almost completely overlapped. The two types labeled neurons organized closely, but there were no double-labeled neurons. Although the motoneurons contributing buccall and marginal mandibular branches were primarily overlapped 4 month post-anastomosis, the number of the labeled neurons obviously decreased and the organization got more scattered. There were 10% of buccall branches, 5% of marginal mandibular motoneurons in the dorsal subnuleus, 1% of buccall and 4% of marginal mandibular in dorsal ventral and medial subnucleus. The distribution pattern of the motoneurons 6 month post-anastomosis was similar to that of 4 month post-anastomosis, but the number of the labeled neurons increased, and there were 1%-2% double-labeled neurons. CONCLUSION: The distribution pattern of motoneurons innervated both buccal and marginal mandibular branches indicates that it should exist wide-spread communicating branches, and its reorganization after facial nerve reinnervation suggests that misdirected regeneration occurs among motoneurons innervating different branches.     

高脂血症患者血小板体积及有关参数的研究

本文报道242例高脂血症患者血小板(PLT)、平均血小板数(MPLT)及平均血小板体积(MPV)等参数的测定结果,其中高胆固醇并高甘油三酯患者,PLT、MPLT及巨大血小板比例(Macro-PLT)高于正常,MPV正常;而单纯高胆固醇或高甘油三酯患者,上述指标与正常人无显著性差异。提示高胆固醇并高甘油三酯患者,存在血小板生成动力学异常,其血小板的破坏增加,生成率加速、但处于一种高水平的动态平衡之中。这可能是高脂血症出现高凝状态的原因之一。同时表明此类患者使用抗血小板疗法具有一定的合理性和必要性。