Circle of Willis artery diameters on MR angiography: An Australian reference database

The aim was to establish a reference range of measurements for all major Circle of Willis (COW) arteries for an Australian population of patients presenting for brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that is typical of a tertiary referral hospital; and to report the prevalence and disease associations of COW variants in our patient population. All technically diagnostic MRI and MRA studies performed at our magnetic resonance (MR) centre in the calendar year 2006 were re‐read by one reader who classified the COW anatomical layout and measured diameters of all the major vessels at defined locations. A subset of 30 was independently re‐read by another reader and the interobserver measurement variability analyzed. Graphical analysis, with 95% confidence intervals (95CI), summary statistics reporting, t‐testing for unpaired and for paired means, Hauck‐Anderson (H‐A) clinical equivalence testing and logistic regression analysis for categorical variables was performed as relevant. One hundred and seventy‐one studies (of 187 eligible) formed the analysis population. All of our patients had vessels of comparable calibre regardless of MRI disease status, gender or COW variant (P > 0.05). Basilar artery (BA) diameter showed significant association with age, but other vessel diameters did not. The reference range is widely applicable, methodology straightforward and appears tolerant of interobserver variability. A number of discontinuous COW variants become more prevalent with age, perhaps from atherosclerotic occlusive disease. There was no association between COW variants, gender, aneurysm location or MRI disease status.     

头孢克洛缓释片治疗成人急性鼻窦炎临床研究

目的 评价头孢克洛缓释片治疗成人急性鼻窦炎的疗效及安全性。方法 62例18-65岁诊断为急性鼻窦炎受试病例,连续服用头孢克洛缓释片(750 mg／次,每日两次,口服)14天,进行多中心的开放式研究。分别在治疗前后对病例进行症状和体征的评估,记录治疗期间发生的不良事件。结果 临床治愈15.5％,好转72.4％,总有效率87.9％(P<0.05)。12.9％的受试病例发生了以胃肠道事件为主的非严重性不良事件。结论 头孢克洛缓释片治疗急性鼻窦炎有良好临床疗效,并具有良好的安全性,可作为口服抗生素的一种有效选择。     

Brown adipose tissue: is it affected by intermittent hypoxia?

Background  

Intermittent hypoxia (IH), a model of sleep apnea, produces weight loss in animals. We hypothesized that changes in brown adipose tissue (BAT) function are involved in such phenomenon. We investigated the effect of IH, during 35 days, on body weight, brown adipose tissue wet weight (BATww) and total protein concentration (TPC) of BAT.     

筛查幽门螺杆菌感染预防胃癌的费用效果分析

目的评价在人群中筛选幽门螺杆菌感染以预防胃癌的临床和经济学效果.方法用Markov模型估计在10万名40岁～45岁人群中筛查幽门螺杆菌感染者并对筛查试验阳性者进行治疗的远期效果及费用,并与不进行任何干预的结果相比较,进行卫生经济学评价.对治疗感染者减少胃癌发生危险度的有效率和胃癌发病率进行敏感性分析.结果在有效率为50%时,每筛查10万人可减少291例胃癌的发生,增加2612个生命年.当预防胃癌的有效率从5%到100%变化时,每增加一个生命年的费用从7747元下降到2325元,在胃癌高发区筛查更经济有效.结论筛查幽门螺杆菌感染是一种潜在的能减少胃癌发生的有效措施.     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid metastasizing to liver: case report

Background  

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare malignant parotid tumor. Metastasis can occur even a decade or more after initial treatment of the primary.     

Percutaneous dilation of ureteral strictures in renal transplant patients

Percutaneous dilation of benign ureteral strictures was performed as an alternative to surgical therapy in 14 patients with renal transplants. Dilations were performed with balloon catheters in 13 patients and with a tapered angiographic catheter in one patient. Eleven strictures were successfully dilated (79%). There were three recurrences (21%). Follow-up in nine of the 11 successful cases ranged from 12 to 61 months (mean, 29 months; median, 24 months). There were no complications directly related to balloon dilation. The high success rate in this series may be related to the early diagnosis of strictures in these closely followed patients.