Pitfalls in CT diagnosis of appendicitis: Pictorial essay

Despite the high diagnostic accuracy of CT for appendicitis, numerous pitfalls exist that may result in a misdiagnosis. This pictorial review outlines the potential pitfalls in the CT diagnosis of appendicitis that includes atypical position of the appendix and coexisting pathologies. Various mimickers of appendicitis and clinical dilemmas will be highlighted. Upon completion, the reviewer should have an improved ability to recognise appendicitis mimickers and identify equivocal or atypical findings.     

胶原海绵复合新生大鼠原代心肌细胞构建工程化心肌组织

目的:探索以胶原海绵为支架、新生大鼠原代心肌细胞为种子细胞,于体外构建工程化心肌组织的方法。方法:实验于2005-12/2006-11在解放军第四军医大学西京医院心内科实验室完成。Ⅰ型胶原海绵剪切成方形片状(2.0cm×1.4cm×0.2cm),经60Co照射消毒,于DMEM培养液中水化1h左右。另取1d龄SD大鼠心脏,剪成小碎块,然后用2.5g/L胰蛋白酶于37℃中消化,吸取上清至含胎牛血清的DMEM中,重复消化四五次,用差速贴壁法除去大部分成纤维细胞,将细胞沉淀用DMEM培养液以2×109L-1的密度悬浮备用。将上述的心肌细胞悬液1mL缓慢滴注于玻璃模型中的胶原海绵上,然后置于细胞培养中培养。肉眼及显微镜主要观察工程化心肌组织在培养期间的自发收缩情况,包括收缩的部位、强度、频率、一致性以及收缩随时间变化的情况。苏木精-伊红染色观察工程化心肌组织内胶原纤维的变化,细胞形态,胞核的形状及细胞之间的连接。免疫组织化学染色和透射电镜观察工程化心肌组织片的形态和功能。结果:①细胞接种于胶原海绵上1d后,细胞/胶原复合物的凝胶化过程基本完毕,体积保持恒定,维持至培养结束,第3天细胞/胶原复合物局部出现点片状自发收缩,第5天整个细胞/胶原复合物出现同步化自发收缩,收缩频率61～199次/min。2周后37.5%的工程化心肌组织的自发收缩活动减弱,但75%的工程化心肌组织的自发收缩活动持续至培养结束。②苏木精-伊红染色、免疫组织化学染色和透射电子显微镜显示,工程化心肌组织内细胞间连接广泛存在,细胞多呈纵向分布,胞核呈长圆形,胞浆内α-肌节肌动蛋白阳性,胞内肌原纤维排列整齐,可见到心肌特异性的肌小节结构和Z线,多数细胞具有分化的心肌细胞表型。结论:用新生大鼠原代心肌细胞为种子细胞、以Ⅰ型胶原海绵为支架材料,构建出的工程化心肌组织,于体外可长时间持续自发收缩,该细胞/胶原复合物的形态结构与生理功能均类似于成熟大鼠心肌组织。     

One-year longitudinal evaluation of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. The REAL.FR Study

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms are major and frequent manifestations of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms in the PHRC REAL.FR cohort (for Réseau sur la maladie d'Alzheimer Fran?ais) after one year of evolution. Four hundred and eighty two patients with mild and moderate AD were assessed. A majority of them had significant symptoms at inclusion (85.3 % of subjects with mild AD, 89.7% of patients with a moderate AD). Patients with mild AD had a significant increase of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) frequency x severity scores for apathy and aberrant motor behavior. Patients with moderate AD had a significant increase of NPI disinhibition, aberrant motor behavior and sleep disorders scores. The variation of NPI total score at one year correlated positively with change in Zarit's caregiver burden score, independently of global cognitive evolution. After one year, a group of 54 patients were institutionalized in nursing home or long term care unit. When compared to non institutionalized patients, the institutionalized group was characterized at base line by a lower MMSE score, a higher Zarit caregiver burden score, and a higher NPI agitation and disinhibition scores.