Growth, bone maturation and pubertal development in children with the EMG-syndrome

In 7 patients (5 girls, 2 boys) with the EMG or Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome, statural growth, bone age (BA), weight and pubertal development were studied longitudinally. Height was above the 90th percentile (%) for chronological age (CA) after age 2 years, reaching an average of 2.5 SD above the mean at or after puberty. Adult or attained height also exceeded significantly (P<0.015) parental (genetic) target height by 13.2 cm on the average. In one girl, adult height prognosis (190 cm) could be reduced to an adult height of 183 cm by high-dose estrogen treatment. In most children, growth velocity remained above the 90th % up to 4–6 years of age and normalized thereafter. In all patients studied, bone age was markedly advanced and particularly so during the first 4 years after birth. Weight was above the 90th–97th % during infancy and early childhood and remained there, appropriate or slightly subnormal for height, until adulthood, except for 3 girls who reached and maintained the 50th % during or after puberty. Spontaneous pubertal development occurred within normal limits for CA and around the 50th % for BA. Except for the marked bone age acceleration, the reason for the increased statural growth and adult height in patients with the EMG syndrome is still unknown.     

Cellular and Molecular Foundation for Fracture Healing in Children

Abstract Dealing with pediatric fracture patients requires a funded knowledge of complications and remodeling capability of the youth skeleton to find the accurate therapy decision and to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures. Due to the different mechanical environment, fractures in children occur at specific fracture-vulnerable areas. One of those is the growth plate, which on one hand gives rise to the unique ability of correcting angular deformities by specifically increasing the growth rate in definite regions, and on the other hand leads to complications like growth arrest or angular deformity. The pediatric diaphysis presents the exclusive greenstick fracture, only seen in the growing skeleton, which occurs because of the different composition of the pediatric bone. To understand these very specific features of the youth skeleton, the molecular and cellular basis should be taken into consideration. Therefore, this review will present the common characteristics of skeletal development and fracture healing. An insight into the mechanotransduction as part of the remodeling and self-correcting ability of pediatric bone is given to span the bridge between clinical treatment options and scientific background.     

Significance of beaten copper appearance on skull radiographs in children with isolated sagittal synostosis

Aims and Objectives The significance of beaten copper appearance (BCA) on skull radiographs in children following surgery for isolated sagittal craniosynostosis has not been studied. This study was designed to look for any correlation between BCA and symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension in this group of patients. Materials and Methods Forty-eight consecutive children, who were operated for isolated sagittal synostosis from1987 to 2000 and had postoperative skull radiographs, were included. Patients were divided into: (a) BCA group (n = 20), consisting of children who had beaten copper appearance on skull radiographs at last follow up, and (b) Non-BCA group (n = 28), consisting of children who did not have this finding. Records were reviewed to look for symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension, such as headache, head banging, and irritability. Results Median age at surgery was 4.8 months for BCA group and 4 months for the non-BCA group. Follow up ranged from 4 to 156 months with a mean of 36.2 months. Total of 28.6% (n = 6) of the children with follow up radiographs done at ≤18 months of age had BCA. The incidence of BCA increased to 83.3% in children with skull radiographs performed after 48 months of age. In 18 (90%) children, the BCA was ‘diffuse’ with 5 (25%) children having the maximum possible score of 8. In the BCA group, 45% (n = 9) had symptoms compared to 10.7% (n = 3) in the control group (p = 0.0068). Conclusions This study suggests a significant number of children with BCA on radiographs develop symptoms suggestive of raised ICP following surgical treatment in infancy and prolonged follow up may be warranted in this group of patients.     

对儿童X线体检中减少照射剂量的探讨

目的:探讨儿童在X线体检中减少照射剂量的方法。方法:应用东芝500mA遥控X线机、FJ-427型热释光剂量仪等设备,对100名3~5岁儿童体检时,随机分成两个对照组、每组50名,分别接受胸透或平片检查,对检查测得数据均进行统计学处理。结果:胸透时胸部接受的照射剂量是平片的22倍多,其它部位接受的X线散射剂量平均值之比亦在20~30倍之间。结论:在儿童X线体检中应采用常规胸片替代胸透,可以有效地降低其辐射危害。     

Indoor radon measurement with The Lucas cell technique

Rn-222 is the most important source of natural radiation and is responsible for approximately half of the received dose from all sources. Most of this dose is from inhalation of the Rn-222 progeny, especially in closed atmospheres. A Lucas cell technique, using a portable device, “PRASSI” (SILENA mod. 5S), for Rn-222 measurements inside the Centre for Radiation Protection and Radioecology (ZSR), Hannover University was used. The portable radon monitor PRASSI is suitable for radon gas continuous or grab sampling measurements with the scintillation cell technique. In recognition of the wide periodic variations in concentration, measurements were made daily for extended periods. At the same time, meteorological variables, such as temperature and humidity were observed so that their influence on radon levels could be evaluated. The radon average concentration during the year was about 55.9 Bq/m³ which gives rise to an annual effective dose 2.2 mSv y⁻¹. The radon concentration is within the limits prescribed by the International Commission for Radiation Protection. A detailed analysis of radon distribution with seasonal variation is presented.     

腹腔镜手术治疗小儿卵巢肿瘤26例

目的探讨腹腔镜手术治疗小儿卵巢肿瘤的效果及安全性。方法2000年1月~2005年3月,我们对26例小儿卵巢肿瘤行腹腔镜手术。气管插管全麻或静脉复合麻醉,行卵巢肿瘤剥除术或一侧附件切除术。对直径<5 cm的肿瘤,在肿瘤的外侧缘线形电凝囊肿包膜;直径>5 cm的肿瘤,在其中部或距基底部3 cm处环形电凝囊肿包膜,钝性分离肿瘤与囊壁,完整剥出肿瘤,残余囊壁创面彻底电凝止血,不缝合。卵巢冠囊肿切除。影响术野的大卵巢囊肿,先穿刺吸净囊液,帽状电凝卵巢囊肿包膜一周,再剥出肿瘤。结果所有患儿卵巢肿瘤手术都在腹腔镜下完成,肿瘤剥除术24例,一侧附件切除2例。手术时间(50±20)m in,术中出血量(30±10)m l,术后住院2~4 d,无手术并发症,无伤口感染。24例随访1年,未见复发。结论腹腔镜手术治疗小儿卵巢肿瘤是一种安全、有效的手术方法。     

直线加速器十年故障分析总结

目的分析和总直线加速器十多年来的故障。方法根据十多年来的故障维修记录，统计和分析直线加速器各阶故障率及故障特点。结果直线加速器使用早期由于机器不稳定故障率比较高，使用中期及其比较稳定，故障率比较低，使用后期由于零部件老化，故障率比较高。     

安徽省X射线诊断受检者剂量水平调查

目的　了解安徽省X射线诊断受检者体表剂量水平。方法　体表剂量监测按国家标准 ,采用热释光剂量计。结果　胸部摄片受检者的体表剂量最低 ,为 0 .39～ 0 .5 3mGy ,比胸部透视平均体表剂量减少 88.6 6 %。结论　减少或控制透视比例 ,降低受检者群体的体表剂量 ,以减少医疗照射对人体造成的危害。     

周围剂量当量仪的研制

周围剂量当量仪研制是根据国际辐射单位和测量委员会（ＩＣＲＵ）３９号报告推荐的周围剂量当量而设计的一种数字化智能型辐射防护仪。方法采用能量补偿对探测器进行能响校正。结果补偿结果使得探测器在４７～２３０ｋｅＶ与ＩＳＯ推荐的Ｈ＊（１０）／Ｋａ值误差在５％以内。本文重点描述了周围剂量当量仪探测器部分的工艺结构和剂量学性能以及电子学测量部分的主要功能。结论通过实际应用我们初步获得的结论是由于该仪器可直接测量周围剂量当量，稳定性好且具有自动取平均值特点，它可做为实验室校准用测量仪器，又由于该仪器体积小，电池供电，读数面板又有背光功能，它也可以做为现场仪器用于辐射防护实践的现场测量