Intraocular pressure and aqueous humor flow during a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp in patients with type 1 diabetes and microvascular complications

Background  

Microvascular complications, including retinopathy and nephropathy are seen with type 1 diabetes. It is unknown whether functional changes in aqueous humor flow or intraocular pressure (IOP) develop in parallel with these complications. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that clinical markers of microvascular complications coexist with the alteration in aqueous humor flow and IOP.     

Acute pulmonary embolism after cerebral infarction associated with a mobile thrombus in the ascending aorta

Although the causes of stroke are diverse, thromboembolism due to a mobile aortic thrombus is rare. We describe a surgical case of acute massive pulmonary embolism after critical cerebral infarction associated with a mobile ascending aortic thrombus in a 52-year-old woman. Concomitant surgical removal of the aortic thrombus and pulmonary embolectomy was performed successfully, and the patient has been stable without recurrent thromboembolic complications after 18 months of follow-up.     

华西医院专科经营助理详解

“跳起来摘桃子”，有人如此形容华西医院这些年的发展。5年前，华西医院拥有开放床位3466张，规模的扩大和管理相对滞后之间的矛盾随着医院发展逐渐凸现出来，医院管理者职业化建设的要求也越来越迫切。2004年春，本着“把时间还给医生，把医生还给病人”的宗旨，该院启动医院管理“运营创新”项目，探索了一条和时下流行的“MBA培训”不同的建设路径，并命名其为“专科经营助理培训项目”。一年后的2005年5月，随着27名“专科经营助理”上岗，该院专科经营助理培训和专科经营制度也被正式导入，并与信息化建设、财务成本制度改革、薪酬制度改革等共同构成了该院的“运营创新”体系。“他们是医院的眼睛，能发现问题，他们进入科室后，可使教授、博士生导师从不熟悉的行政业务中解脱出来，更多地考虑战略问题，把战术问题交给专科经营助理来完成。”事后，华西医院院长石应康这样评价该院专科经营助理的工作。这究竞是怎样一个群体？其日常工作和职能分工如何来界定？4年下来，这个群体工作情况又怎样？作为先行先试者，华西医院有关人士作出了若干解答。     

Assessment of depth perception using psychophysical thresholds and stereoscopically evoked brain activity

Dynamic random-dot stereograms (dRDS) elicit brain activity generated exclusively by cortical neurons sensitive to binocular horizontal disparity. We studied 20 adults with stereovision deficiency but otherwise normal vision. Psychophysical thresholds were determined with static RDS and with the three-rod experiment. VEP was recorded from seven occipital channels. Stimuli were presented on a monitor by dRDS as stereoscopic checkerboard patterns that moved in depth with 8 depth reversals per second. Horizontal disparity ranged from 7 to 24.5 min of arc. Stimuli were displayed at the center, or in the left or right half field. We determined electrophysiological thresholds as well as the disparity where largest responses occurred. Subjective and electrophysiological thresholds showed a significant positive correlation. In addition, the right visual field was more sensitive to dRDS stimuli than other locations. Squint angle was related to the disparity thresholds. Our data illustrate correlations between clinical symptoms, perceptual deficiency, and VEP parameters.     

Hemangiopericytoma of the Greater Omentum

A 41-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to our hospital with epigastric pain. Computed tomography detected a heterogeneous enhancement tumor fed by the left gastroepiploic artery in the left lower quadrant and cholelithiasis. Excision of the tumor in the greater omentum and cholecystectomy were performed laparoscopically. Histological findings confirmed a diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma with low-grade malignancy. To our knowledge, hemangiopericytoma of the greater omentum is very rare, and only 12 cases were reported in English literature. We report a case of hemangiopericytoma arising in the greater omentum and review the literature.     

True smooth muscle neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract: morphological spectrum and classification in a series of 85 cases from a single institute

BACKGROUND AND AIM: True smooth-muscle neoplasms of the GI tract have been only rarely studied in the KIT era. Their incidence among other GI mesenchymal tumours and their clinicopathological spectrum have not been sufficiently analysed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed all GI mesenchymal lesions at the Pathology Institute of the Nuremberg Clinic Centre from 1994 through 2005. RESULTS: Among 262 lesions, there were 142 GISTs (54%) and 85 true smooth muscle neoplasms (32%). Smooth muscle neoplasms comprised 72 polypoid leiomyomas (78%, 5 oesophageal and 67 colorectal), 10 intramural leiomyomas (11%, 5 oesophageal, 4 gastric and one ileal), two intramural leiomyosarcomas in the sigmoid colon and ileum (2%) and one polypoid leiomyosarcoma involving the stomach, descending colon and the retroperitoneum concurrently. None of the leiomyomas with available follow-up have recurred or metastasised. CONCLUSION: Smooth muscle neoplasms are the second most common mesenchymal neoplasms in the GI tract after GISTs. They may arise either from the muscularis mucosae or proper muscle layer forming polypoid and intramural lesions, respectively. Polypoid leiomyomas are more common in the rectosigmoid, while intramural ones mainly arise in the vicinity of the oesophagogastric junction. Polypoid leiomyomas are sufficiently treated by endoscopic resection, and local surgical excision is the treatment of choice for intramural leiomyomas. Intramural leiomyosarcomas are rare high-grade sarcomas that commonly have infiltrated into the surrounding tissue or metastasised by the time of diagnosis.     

Central serous chorioretinopathy and risk for obstructive sleep apnea

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in comparison to controls, have increased levels of circulating epinephrine and norepinephrine, both of which are risk factors for the development of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the frequency of symptoms that suggest OSA in CSCR patients and normal controls. The Berlin Questionnaire, a validated research tool to assess risk for OSA, was administered to 29 patients who met the criteria for active, acute, non-steroid-induced CSCR and 29 controls matched for age and sex. In this retrospective case-controlled study, the main outcome measure was increased risk for OSA. The mean age of the patients was 47.8 years (range 29–72) and the mean age of controls was 47.3 years (range 25–70). Seventy-six percent (22) of both groups were men. Survey scores showed 58.6% (17) of patients with CSCR to be at an increased risk for OSA compared to 31.0% (nine) of controls. A conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the CSCR group had a higher proportion with an increased risk for OSA compared to the control group (odds ratio=3.67; 95% CI: 1.02, 13.14; P = 0.046). Patients with CSCR may be more likely than other adults to have OSA, and screening for this sleep disorder should be considered in this population. Further research is warranted to determine whether sleep apnea may contribute to the development of CSCR, and to assess whether treatment of sleep apnea might offer a new therapeutic option for some patients with CSCR.     

Mapping the social and physical contexts of physical activity across adolescence using ecological momentary assessment

BACKGROUND: Research has sought to understand how environmental factors influence adolescent physical activity, yet little is known about where and with whom adolescents are physically active. PURPOSE: This study used electronic ecological momentary assessment (e.EMA) to map the social and physical contexts of exercise and walking across adolescence. Differences in physical activity contexts by gender, grade in school, day of the week, and season were examined. METHODS: Twice a year between 9th and 12th grade, 502 adolescents (51% female) of mixed ethnicity (55% White) participated in 4-day e.EMA intervals (Thursday-Sunday) where their primary activity (e.g., exercise, TV, homework), social company (e.g., friends, family, class), and physical location (e.g., home, school, outdoors) were assessed every 30 (+/-10) min during waking hours. RESULTS: Overall, greater proportions of exercise and walking were reported with friends, outdoors, and at school. However, boys were more likely to report exercising and walking in outdoor locations than girls. Exercising with classmates, family, and at school decreased across high school. Walking with family, friends, and outdoors also decreased. On weekdays compared to weekends, students reported a greater proportion of their exercise and walking at school. Students were more likely to report exercising and walking outdoors in the fall and the spring than in the winter. CONCLUSION: e.EMA showed that the social and physical contexts of adolescent exercise and walking vary as a function of gender, grade in school, day of the week, and season. Understanding the contexts of physical activity during the high school years can be helpful in designing interventions during adolescence.     

One-year follow-up results of combined use of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser and cold instrumentation for Reinke’s edema surgery in professional voice users

The purpose of this study was to present our experience with combined use of CO₂ laser and cold instrumentation for Reinke’s edema surgery and to evaluate 1-year follow-up results of the technique in a series of professional voice users. Fifteen patients with Reinke’s edema who underwent microlaryngoscopic surgery were included. Videolaryngostroboscopy, perceptual and acoustic voice analyses were performed before and after surgery. During the 1-year follow-up, no recurrence of Reinke’s edema was encountered. Significant postoperative improvement was obtained in the quality of voice, in terms of GRBAS scores, Fo, jitter, shimmer and NHR. No evidence of laryngeal cancer was found on the histological examinations. Combined use of CO₂ laser and cold instrumentation provides a reliable and safe method for Reinke’s edema surgery, and cessation of smoking, voice rest and control of the laryngopharyngeal reflux contribute to the success of surgery. We consider that the removal of redundant mucosa of the vocal fold reduces the risk of the recurrence of Reinke’s edema and provides better quality of voice. However, it does not imply that our method is superior to others’, but this procedure constitutes an effective treatment of choice for Reinke’s edema patients, including professional voice users.     

个体患者适形调强放疗计划模体内剂量实测验证技术的建立

目的建立个体患者适形调强放疗（IMRT）计划的模体内剂量实测验证技术。方法选择1例鼻咽癌患者，设计IMRT计划。将患者计划转移到模体上设计杂交计划。执行杂交计划时，用针点电离室测量感兴趣点的剂量，并与该点的计算剂量比较。用胶片剂量测量系统测量杂交计划中感兴趣平面的剂量，胶片与计划剂量矩阵登记后，依次进行计划，胶片分析、计划，胶片剖面分析和计划／胶片等剂量线分析。采用复合判断标准评价验证结果。结果针点电离室测量得到杂交计划单次照射的总剂量为121．5cGy，比计算值低约4％。计划，胶片分析得到高剂量、高梯度区域的距离差别均在4mm以内；计划／胶片剖面分析显示，计划与胶片在通过靶区的剖面具有较好的一致性；计划，胶片等剂量线分析显示，计划与胶片对应值的等剂量线重合良好。按照复合判断标准，该计划验证通过。结论初步建立了个体患者IMRT计划的模体内剂量实测验证技术，建立并优化了剂量登记技术、剂量归一方法和评价方法。