Morphological specificity analysis of an image-based 3D model of airway filling in a difficult airway.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze position-specific morphological changes of the upper airway and to further assess the impact of these changes in difficult airway during intubation. METHODS: This observational comparative study included two groups (n = 20 patients/group): Group A had normal airway and Group B had difficult airway. Data obtained from two-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging were imported to Mimics V20.0 software for processing. We then reconstructed three-dimensional models of upper airway filling in patients in the supine and maximum extension position based on the imaging data. Those models were projected on coronal, sagittal, and horizontal planes to investigate multiple morphological features. We measured the surface area, radial length, and corner angle of the projected areas. RESULTS: Group A had larger upper airway filling volumes compared to Group B The volumes for the supine position were 6,323.83 ± 156.06 mm3 for Group A and 5,336.22 ± 316.13 mm3 for Group B (p = 0.003). The volumes the maximum extension position were 9,186.58 ± 512.61 mm3 for Group A and 6,735.46 ± 794.63 mm3 for Group B (p = 0.003). Airway volume increased in the upper airway filling model as the body position varied from the supine to maximum extension position (Group A: volume increase 2,953.75 ± 524.6 mm3, rate of change 31%; Group B: volume increase 1,632.89 ± 662.66 mm3, rate of change 25%; p = 0.052). CONCLUSION: The three-dimensional reconstruction model developed in this study was used to digitally quantify morphological features of a difficult airway and could be used as a novel airway management assessment tool.

Lumbosacral Paravertebral Tophaceous Gout on an Adolescent Mimicking Malignant Neoplasm in 18 F-FDG PET/CT.

ABSTRACT: Contrast-enhanced MRI was performed on a 17-year-old adolescent boy with chronic lumbar and lower-limb pain, which had worsened over the past 3 days. It revealed a suspicious malignant mass adjacent to right appendage of L5-S1 vertebrae, with mixed signals and heterogeneous and obvious enhancement. 18 F-FDG PET/CT was subsequently performed for staging. It showed an FDG-avid mass with mixed density in right psoas major muscle, involving adjacent appendage of L5-S1 vertebrae. Histopathological examination confirmed the mass to be gouty tophus, characterized by nodular homogeneous pink amorphous deposits around the cartilage tissue, surrounded by histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells.

Seven new freshwater species of Gammarus from southern China (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridae).

Seven new species of the genus Gammarus are described and illustrated from southern China. The new species Gammarus vallecula Hou & Li, sp. n., G. qinling Hou & Li, sp. n., G. zhigangi Hou & Li, sp. n. and G. jidutanxian Hou & Li, sp. n. are characterized by inner ramus of uropod III half the length of outer ramus. Gammarus longdong Hou & Li, sp. n. is characterized by inner ramus of uropod III 0.9 times as long as outer ramus. Gammarus mosuo Hou & Li, sp. n. is characterized by pereopods V-VII with long setae on anterior margins and both rami of uropod III armed with simple setae. Gammarus caecigenus Hou & Li, sp. n. can be distinguished from other species by eyes absent. DNA barcodes of the new species are documented as proof of molecular differences between species. A key to the new species and a map of their distributions are provided.

A new subterranean species of Pseudocrangonyx from China with an identification key to all species of the genus (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Pseudocrangonyctidae).

A subterranean species of Pseudocrangonyx elegantulus Hou, sp. n. is described from caves of Wulongdong National Forest Park in Henan Province, China. Pseudocrangonyx elegantulus is characterized by both male and female with calceoli on antenna II; urosomite III dorsal margin without armature; uropod III with peduncle 0.30 times as long as outer ramus and terminal article of the outer ramus a little shorter than adjacent spines; telson cleft 0.27 of its length. Phylogenetic analysis based on 28S and COI sequences supported the species distinctness. A key to the genus Pseudocrangonyx with 22 species and a map of their distributions are provided.

A new terrestrial talitrid genus, Myanmarorchestia, with two new species from Myanmar (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Talitridae).

Myanmarorchestia Hou, gen. n. with two new species is described from terrestrial habitats in Myanmar. This new genus is characterised by 4-dentate lacinia on left mandible, simple gnathopod I in both sexes, weakly chelate gnathopod II in male, simplidactylate pereopods and complex and lobed gills. Myanmarorchestia peterjaegeri Hou, sp. n. closely resembles M. seabri Hou, sp. n. in gnathopod II merus and carpus protuberant on posterior margin; however, the former is distinguished from the latter by palp of maxilla I with two articles, coxal gills convoluted, and telson with nicks on surface. Additionally, DNA barcodes of the new species are obtained to confirm their distinctiveness.

Two new Gammarus species and a new name (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from Northwest China.

Two new species of the genus Gammarus are described and illustrated from Northwest China. A new species name Gammarus tianshan nom. nov. is proposed to replace G. montanus Hou et al., 2004. Gammarus simplex sp. nov. from Altay, Xinjiang, is characterized by uropod III with simple setae on both rami and urosomite I only with setae on dorsal margin. Gammarus glaber sp. nov. from Qinghai, is characterized by uropod III with few simple and plumose setae. Detailed morphological description and differences from related species are discussed. A distribution map of the new species and related species is provided.

Description of a new species of Victoriopisa Karaman & Barnard, 1979 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Eriopisidae) from China, with a key to the genus Victoriopisa.

Victoriopisa multiartus sp. nov. is described from mangrove in Qi'ao Island, China. The new species differs from the other nine species of the genus Victoriopisa in the gnathopod I sexual dimorphism; propodus palm of gnathopod II with two excavations in female and one excavation in male; and terminal article of outer ramus in uropod III expanded, oval-shaped. A key to the genus Victoriopisa with ten species and a map of their distribution are provided.