Fat and water separation in balanced steady-state free precession using the Dixon method.

In this work the feasibility of separating fat and water signals using the balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) technique is demonstrated. The technique is based on the observation (Scheffler and Hennig, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2003;49:395-397) that at the nominal values of TE = TR/2 in SSFP imaging, phase coherence can be achieved at essentially only two orientations (0 degrees and 180 degrees ) relative to the RF pulses in the rotating frame, under the assumption of TR < T2, and independently of the SSFP angle. This property allows in-phase and out-of-phase SSFP images to be obtained by proper choices of the center frequency offset, and thus allows the Dixon subtraction method to be utilized for effective fat-water separation. The TR and frequency offset for optimal fat-water separation are derived from theories. Experimental results from healthy subjects, using a 3.0 Tesla system, show that nearly complete fat suppression can be accomplished.     

中风毒邪论与神经保护治疗的研究

中风毒邪论是一种与传统中医中风病理有所不同的理论 ,在中风毒邪论指导下形成解毒通络方是较为理想的神经保护剂 ,可解决目前神经保护治疗的主要障碍 ,有望成为提高中医治疗中风急性期疗效的关键     

2008年连云港市“手足口病”流行特征及病原学分型

目的分析连云港市2008年手足口病的流行特征及病原学分型情况。方法应用流行病学方法对2008年该市的手足口病流行资料进行分析。结果依据疫情报告,实验室诊断病例45例,其中CoxA1638例,EV71型7例,其他肠道病毒0例。2008年该市临床报告手足口病例1067例,报告发病率为23.19/10万,比2007年上升442.34%,男女发病比为3.1∶1。发病年龄最小的为0岁组,最大的为8岁;0～5岁组,共计发病976例,占总发数的91.47%。发病数的构成以散居儿童最多,占76.66%。地区分布:全市各个区县均有手足口病病例报告,但城区的总体发病率高于县。结论连云港市手足口病发病率有上升趋势;控制传染源是有效防止该病流行的关键。     

Analysis of the circumstances at the end of life in children with cancer: Symptoms, suffering and acceptance

BACKGROUND: In an effort to improve the quality of life of children with cancer, this study analyzes the signs and symptoms at the end of life in such children. It is hoped that these data will contribute to the development of appropriate programs to address the challenges faced by these children. PROCEDURE: Between 1994 and 2000, 28 children died after treatment for cancer at Hamamatsu University Hospital, Japan. The circumstances, signs and symptoms at the end of life of these children were analyzed through their medical records. RESULTS: Of the 28 children, the underlying diseases were leukemia/lymphoma (LL group; n=11), brain tumors (BT group; n=7), and other solid tumors (OST group; n=10). Records showed poor appetite (100%), dyspnea (82.1%), pain (75.0%), fatigue (71.4%), nausea/vomiting (57.1%), constipation (46.4%) and diarrhea (21.4%) among these children. Anxiety was reported in 53.6% of the entire group of 28 children; however, no child in the BT group manifested anxiety. However, disturbance of consciousness was reported in all children in the BT group, which was significantly greater than in the other groups. Awareness, fear or acceptance of the imminence of his/her own death as indicated by verbal expression was reported in nine children (32.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the data obtained in the present study, we describe situations faced in the terminal care of children. It is important to address the problems revealed by this analysis in order to achieve improvements in both the physical and psychological care of children with terminal cancer.     

Learning to Observe Relationships and Coping

Milieu relationships provide the critical background presence to staff's attempts to motivate, regulate, and teach patients how to cope with stress. Forging a connection with hospitalized children and adolescents demands attention to how they respond to adults and engage with staff around milieu expectations. Assessment guides that deal with these issues are presented. Important aspects of children's relatedness are presented in the context of their working models of adults and the influence of these representations on their response to staff. Coping skills are explained with particular emphasis on behavioral coping strategies. Tied to the assessment process are interventions that emphasize staff's role in helping patients manage strong affects and avoid the use of nonproductive behavior regulation strategies.     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

Acute encephalopathy associated with influenza and other viral infections

Acute encephalopathy is the most serious complication of pediatric viral infections, such as influenza and exanthem subitum. It occurs worldwide, but is most prevalent in East Asia, and every year several hundreds of Japanese children are affected by influenza-associated encephalopathy. Mortality has recently declined, but is still high. Many survivors are left with motor and intellectual disabilities, and some with epilepsy. This article reviews various syndromes of acute encephalopathy by classifying them into three major categories. The first group caused by metabolic derangement consists of various inherited metabolic disorders and the classical Reye syndrome. Salicylate is a risk factor of the latter condition. The second group, characterized by a systemic cytokine storm and vasogenic brain edema, includes Reye-like syndrome, hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome, and acute necrotizing encephalopathy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac sodium and mephenamic acid, may aggravate these syndromes. Severe cases are complicated by multiple organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Mortality is high, although methylprednisolone pulse therapy may be beneficial in some cases. The third group, characterized by localized edema of the cerebral cortex, has recently been termed acute encephalopathy with febrile convulsive status epilepticus, and includes hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia syndrome and acute infantile encephalopathy predominantly affecting the frontal lobes. Theophylline is a risk factor of these syndromes. The pathogenesis is yet to be clarified, but an increasing body of evidence points to excitotoxicity and delayed neuronal death.     

清开灵注射液治疗脑血管性痴呆32例

目的观察清开灵注射液治疗脑血管性痴呆的疗效.方法将中医学辨证属于实证的64例脑血管性痴呆患者随机分为治疗组(清开灵注射液组)和对照组(脑复康组),治疗5周后,将两组治疗前后在智力障碍程度、肢体功能、血液流变学指标、中医证型疗效方面的变化进行比较.结果经治疗后治疗组和对照组相比较,智力障碍程度变化(有效率、MMSE、ADL积分)、肌力、步行能力改变有显著性差异,p＜0.05.而治疗前后组内及组间血流变指标虽有一定下降,但无统计学意义(p＞0.05).结论清开灵注射液对脑血管性痴呆患者,在改善智力障碍、肌力、步行能力方面有较好的疗效.     

236例无痛人工流产术的疗效观察

目的:探讨异丙酚和芬太尼混合液静脉麻醉、笑气吸入麻醉及2%利多卡因宫颈局部浸润麻醉三种镇痛方法在人工流产手术中的疗效比较。方法:自2003年8月至2004年1月对236例妇科门诊早孕要求终止妊娠的妇女实施无痛人工流产术。随机分成3组。A组:异丙酚+芬太尼静脉麻醉(85例);B组:N2O(笑气)吸入麻醉(88例);C组:2%利多卡因宫颈局部浸润麻醉(63例),观察人流术中其镇痛效果并对疼痛进行分级。结果:A组85例100%可达到完全不痛(疼痛分级为0级);B组65.90%可达到完全不痛,Ⅰ级23.86%,Ⅱ级9.09%,Ⅲ级1.15%;C组0例可达到完全不痛,Ⅰ级63.49%,Ⅱ级30.16%,Ⅲ级6.35%。结论:受术者如无心肺疾患及人流禁忌证,无痛人工流产术应选择异丙酚+芬太尼静脉麻醉可达到完全无痛,痛苦最小。     

学生课堂教学质量评价问题浅析

综合分析河南中医学院近三年以来学生课堂教学质量评价反馈的信息，认为引发课堂教学评价偏差的人为因素有评价者的能力水平、责任心、情感倾向。其对策为：改变教师的被动地位，进一步修订评价体系，加强对组织评价者的培训，强化临床课的教学，进一步提高学生的认识，跟踪调查课堂教学质量评价。