Perirenal fat thickness and liver fat fraction are independent predictors of MetS in adults with overweight and obesity suspected with NAFLD: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a multidirectional relationship with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and used to be considered a hepatic manifestation of MetS. Perirenal fat, as a part of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), was reported to be correlated with MetS components, but data for intraorgan fat are lacking. This study was undertaken to assess the value of peripheral and intraorgan fat to predict MetS in adults with overweight and obesity with suspected NAFLD. METHODS: We studied 134 sequential adults (mean age, 31.5 years; 47% female) with overweight and obesity with suspected NAFLD. All participants underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters and perirenal fat thickness (PRFT), subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SATT), liver fat fraction (LFF), pancreas fat fraction (PFF), and lumbar spine fat fraction (LSFF) were collected. MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Statistical analyses included basic statistics, linear correlation and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 63 adults with MetS and 71 adults with advanced liver steatosis (grades 2 and 3) were included in our study. Patients with MetS had greater PRFT (p = 0.026) and LFF (p < 0.001), as well as greater homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and decreased SATT. MetS patients had a higher proportion of advanced steatosis than those without MetS (P < 0.001). The MetS score was associated with PRFT and LFF. Logistic regression analysis showed that the PRFT and LFF were independent predictors of MetS after adjusting for age and sex. A cutoff of 9.15 mm for PRFT and 14.68% for LFF could be predictive of MetS. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the absolute cutoff level of 9.15 mm for PRFT and 14.68% for LFF may be clinically important markers for identifying patients who are at high risk of MetS among adults with overweight and obesity with suspected NAFLD, irrespective of sex and age. Moreover, ectopic fat levels in pancreas and lumbar spine are positively associated with PRFT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Gelatin-grafted tubular asymmetric scaffolds promote ureteral regeneration via activation of the integrin/Erk signaling pathway.

Introduction: The repair of a diseased ureter is an urgent clinical issue that needs to be solved. A tissue-engineered scaffold for ureteral replacement is currently insufficient due to its incompetent bioactivity, especially in long-segment abnormalities. The primary reason is the failure of urothelialization on scaffolds. Methods: In this work, we investigated the ability of gelatin-grafted tubular scaffold in ureteral repairment and its related biological mechanism. We designed various porous asymmetric poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/poly (L-lactide-co-e-caprolactone) (PLCL) tubes with a thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method via a change in the ratio of solvents (named PP). To regulate the phenotype of urothelial cells and ureteral reconstruction, gelatin was grafted onto the tubular scaffold using ammonolysis and glutaraldehyde crosslinking (named PP-gel). The in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to test the biological function and the mechanism of the scaffolds. Results and Discussion: The hydrophilicity of the scaffold significantly increased after gelatin grafting, which promoted the adhesion and proliferation of urothelial cells. Through subcutaneous implantation in rats, PP-gel scaffolds demonstrated good biocompatibility. The in vivo replacement showed that PP-gel could improve urothelium regeneration and maintain renal function after the ureter was replaced with an ∼4 cm-long PP-gel tube using New Zealand rabbits as the experimental animals. The related biologic mechanism of ureteral reconstruction was detected in detail. The gelatin-grafted scaffold upgraded the integrin α6/ß4 on the urothelial cell membrane, which phosphorylates the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and enhances urothelialization via the MAPK/Erk signaling pathway. Conclusion: All these results confirmed that the PP46-gel scaffold is a promising candidate for the constitution of an engineered ureter and to repair long-segment ureteral defects.

Two case reports of right atrial aneurysm.

INTRODUCTION: Right atrial aneurysm (RAA) is a rare congenital heart disease (CHD) that usually shows no symptom and is discovered occasionally. This paper introduces the clinical and imaging data obtained in 2 RAA patients and presents a related literature review with the aim of increasing understanding of this disease. PATIENT FOCUS: One case showed chest distress, while the other showed symptoms on physical examination and positive signs. DIAGNOSIS: Both of these 2 cases were diagnosed with RAA based on ultrasonography, computed tomography angiography (CTA), and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. INTERVENTIONS: One patient was orally administered warfarin anticoagulant therapy, while the other was given amiodarone to control arrhythmia as well as warfarin anticoagulant therapy. RESULTS: The clinical symptoms of both cases were not aggravated. CONCLUSIONS: RAA is a rare cardiac anomaly that can induce severe complications, and it is mainly diagnosed based on imaging examinations. Conservative treatment and regular imaging monitoring are recommended for asymptomatic patients with no high-risk factors, while surgical treatment should be performed in symptomatic patients with high-risk factors.

Interim 18F-FDG PET/CT improves the prognostic value of S-IPI, R-IPI and NCCN-IPI in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The current study aimed to explore whether the efficiency of the standard International Prognostic Index (S-IPI), revised-IPI (R-IPI) and enhanced-IPI (NCCN-IPI) in evaluating the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may be improved by interim 18F-FDG PET/CT. A total of 185 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL were enrolled in the current study. All patients underwent interim PET/CT following the 4th cycle of chemotherapy. Patients were divided into different risk groups using S-IPI, R-IPI and NCCN-IPI and further subdivided into risk groups using interim PET/CT. Interpretations were evaluated for 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). With a median follow-up time of 44 months, the 2-year PFS and OS were 60% [95% confidence interval (CI) 53-67%] and 81% (95% CI 74-86%), respectively. Analysis of S-IPI and NCCN-IPI identified no significant difference in PFS and OS between high intermediate and high risk groups. However, there were significant differences in the PFS and OS between the low and low intermediate risk groups (P<0.01). Interim PET/CT was used to redistribute patients in the higher risk group into PET negative and positive groups (P<0.01) and arallel results were observed in the lower risk group. In R-IPI, interim PET/CT identified a significant difference between PFS and OS in the good and poor risk groups but not in the very good risk group. Therefore, the results of the current study indicate that S-IPI, R-IPI and NCCN-IPI are three clinically useful prognostic indexes for patients with DLBCL. Interim PET/CT may improve the prognostic value of S-IPI, R-IPI and NCCN-IPI in predicting 2-year PFS and OS, particularly in patients with a high IPI score.

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the left ureter: A case report.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurring in various sites, but rarely involving the ureters. Primary DLBCL is a rare entity. Imaging studies in a 82-year-old male patient revealed left hydronephrosis and an area of nodular soft tissue density in the upper ureteral wall. On enhanced computed tomography scans, the lesion exhibited early enhancement. As the lesion was considered to be malignant, a left nephroureterectomy was performed for the purpose of pathological diagnosis. Histological analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed DLBCL. Since the surgery, the patient has survived for 16 months without evidence of a relapse. Thus, in cases with ureteral stenosis or obstruction for which the cause is uncertain, the possibility of primary lymphoma of the ureter should be considered and further histopathological examination of bioptic samples should be performed as soon as possible.

Clinical analysis of pharyngeal musculature and genioglossus exercising to treat obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pharyngeal musculature and genioglossus exercising on obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: We conducted a non-randomized retrospective clinical trial of 75 patients with OSAHS. Fifty-four patients were managed by exercising of the pharyngeal musculature and genioglossus (exercising group). Twenty-one patients, who refused to undertake any treatment, were defined as the control group. We took the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), checked patients' polysomnography, and took 320-detector computed tomography (CT) before treatment. Six and twelve months later, we made records of apnea hypopnea index (AHI), lowest arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO2), body mass index (BMI), the shortest sagittal diameter, and transverse diameter, and the effective rates of exercising were calculated and compared with the 21 patients without any treatment (control group) at the same time. SPSS 10.0 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Before treatment, the ESS value was 7.67; 6 and 12 months later, the values were 3.54 and 3.25, respectively in the exercising group. AHI was decreased to 15.36 after 6 months and 13.79 after 12 months from 22.84 at the beginning. LSaO2 values were up to 81.18% after 6 months and 81.93% after 12 months from 74.05% at the beginning. There were significant differences in ESS scores, AHI, and LSaO2 between pre-treatment and post-treatment in the exercising group (P<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in all the parameters between 6 and 12 months of exercising. The effective rates were 70.37% and 74.07% after 6- and 12-month exercising, respectively. There were significant differences between the exercising and control groups (P<0.0001). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate of the exercising group between 6 and 12 months of exercising (P>0.05). At 12 months of exercising, the compliance of the anteroposterior pharyngeal wall of the retropalatal area was lower (P<0.01) than that before treatment. There was no significant change of BMI in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Exercising pharyngeal musculature and genioglossus is a kind of non-invasive and cost-effective method to treat some OSAHS patients, especially those who are old, without surgical complications, and especially mild and moderate OSAHS patients who do not want to take surgery and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. In addition, exercising pharyngeal musculature and genioglossus can be considered as remedial treatment of OSAHS to surgery and other therapies.

Acute torsion of wandering spleen in a 17-year-old girl.

The acute torsion of wandering spleen is a very rare disease characterized by acute abdominal pain. Without early surgical intervention, wandering spleen can lead to splenic infarction or rupture. However, early clinical diagnosis is very difficult, so imaging modalities play an important role. We present a case of acute abdominal pain due to torsion of the wandering spleen in a 17-year-old girl, diagnosed by computed tomography and effectively managed by splenectomy for splenic infarction.

Four-dimensional computed tomography angiography is valuable in intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula diagnosis and fistula evaluation.

This study was to evaluate the value of four-dimensional computed tomography angiography (4D-CTA) in the diagnosis of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). This study included 16 patients who were diagnosed to have intracranial DAVF by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The 4D-CTA was performed by Aquilion ONE multi-detector CT scanner (Toshiba Medical Systems, Japan) equipped with 320 × 0.5 mm detector rows. Standard biplane fluoroscopy equipments (Infinix, Toshiba Medical Systems, Japan and ADVANTX LC/LP, GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA) were applied in the diagnosis of intra-arterial DSA. Examinations were performed to evaluate the findings of DSA and 4D-CTA in each patient. The examination results were read by two independent readers in a blind manner. All results were documented on standardized scoring sheets. In all 16 cases, the same diagnosis results of intracranial DAVF were obtained from DSA and 4D-CTA. The results of subtype (Borden and Cognard classification), venous reflux and fistula sites were also accurately exhibited in 4D-CTA. In addition, there was a little discrepancy in identifying smaller and specific arterial branches and in distinguishing fistula type (focal or diffuse) using 4D-CTA. Good-to-excellent agreements were made between 4D-CTA and DSA. Therefore, 4D-CTA could be a feasible tool for the characterization of intracranial DAVF, with respect to determining fistula site and venous drainage.

The diagnosis of arteriovenous malformations by 4D-CTA: a clinical study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the current imaging 'gold standard' for diagnosis of arteriovenous malformation (AVM). The latest technique, four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT), offers a new diagnostic method for assessing AVM in real time. This study used a 320-detector-row CT scanner to compare the value of 4D-CT angiography (4D-CTA) with DSA in the diagnosis of untreated AVM patients. METHODS: Seventeen patients diagnosed with AVM by DSA were included in this study. Two independent readers blind to the results of all examinations evaluated the findings of DSA and 4D-CTA in each patient. All results were then documented using a standardized scoring sheet. RESULTS: The results of 4D-CTA in all 17 cases were fully consistent with DSA for AVM location, size and vascular structures. 4D-CTA had the same ability as DSA to distinguish the main feeding arteries in all cases, although in the identification of smaller and specific arterial branches, there were discrepancies in one patient between the two methods. In the diagnosis of draining veins, however, 4D-CTA successfully displayed all of the vessels found by DSA. CONCLUSION: 4D-CTA was able to detect all AVM lesions, including their size, location, feeding arteries and draining veins. Thus, 4D-CTA has a value similar to that of DSA in the diagnosis and assessment of AVM.

Surgical treatment for ruptured dural arteriovenous fistula with large intracranial hematoma.

The rupture of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is a serious complication endangering the lives of patients. It is difficult to treat such ruptured DAVF with large intracranial hematoma since lacking of early diagnostic methods. Meanwhile, there was no consensus of how to surgically treat these patients in early stage. In this study, we tried to use 4D-CTA to diagnose DAVF and guide surgical treatment. Based on the result of 4D-CTA, we attempted to eliminate DAVF at the same time we removed hematoma. The result was encouraging. 7 patients with ruptured DAVF presented as large spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage were included in this research between May, 2010 and August, 2012 in our hospital. 4D-CTA was performed in all cases. All results of 4D-CTA inspections were studied by both neurosurgeon and neuroradiologist. The therapeutic options were evaluated based on the clinical and angiographic results. All fistulas of seven patients were eliminated at the same time the hematoma being evacuated. 4D-CTA was sufficient for detecting and recognizing basic vessel angioarchitecture of DAVF to guide surgical treatment. Main arterial supplies, fistula location and CVDs found during surgery are consistent with the results 4D-CTA. All seven cases achieved completely fistula occlusion in operation without new neurological complication. We favor one stage surgical treatment for ruptured DAVF with large intracranial hemorrhage. 4D-CTA plays an important role in preoperative emergent inspection for its safety, rapidity and accuracy. However, it still needs further and larger investigations to optimize such treatment methods and to find out other potential risks.

[Exercise pharynx and genioglossus to treat obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the method and effect of exercising larynx and genioglossus to treat obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHOD: Fifty-four patients who were diagnosed as OSAHS and exercised larynx and genioglossus were defined as treatment group. We took Epworth sleep scale, check patient's PSG, and took computer tomography (320CT) before treatment, 6 months and 12 months later. We made a record of AHI, LSaO2, BMI, the shortest sagittal diameter and transverse diameter. Compared with 30 patients who had taken UPPP surgery (control group 1) and the 21 patients without any treatment (control group 2) at the same time. SPSS 10.0 was used to analyze the data. RESULT: According to Chinese OSAHS construction in 2009, 6 months and 12 months later, the effective rates of treatment group were 31.48% and 44.44%, among which the effective rates in mild and moderate patients of treatment group were 44.74% and 63.16%. Before treatment the mark of Epworth sleep scale was 7.67, 6 month and 12 month later the marks were 3.54 and 3.25. AHI were up to 15.45 after 6 months and 13. 60 after 12 months from 22. 84 at the beginning. LSaO2 were up to 81.18% after 6 months and 81.93% after 12 months from 74.05% at the beginning. The effective rate of control group 1 was 66.67%, and was much higher than the treatment group 6 months later (P < 0.05). But there was no statistics difference of effective rate between treatment group and control group 1 (36.67%) after 12 months (P > 0.05). The effective rates of treatment group were much higher than control group 2 (P < 0.01). After 12 months, the sagittal wall compliance of retropalatal area was lower (P < 0.01). There was no significant change of BMI in every group. CONCLUSION: Exercising larynx and genioglossus is one kind of non-invasive and effective method without payment to treat part of OSAHS patients, especially the patients who is old, without surgical condition, and especially mild and moderate OSAHS patient that do not want to take surgery and CPAP treatment. Besides, exercising larynx and genioglossus can be considered as remedial treatment of OSAHS to surgery and other therapy.

[Evaluation of upper airway resilience under Müller respiration by non-endoscopic method].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate diagnostic significance of the noninvasive and objective 320-slice CT scan in the high pharynx resilience in the patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. METHOD: Fifty patients with OSAHS and 10 patients with pharyngeal paraesthesia were included in the study. 320 slice CT scan was used to measure the sagittal diameters, transverse diameters and sectional area of the retropalatal region, retroglossal region. Calculating the pharynx wall resilience. Analyzing the correlativity of pharynx wall resilience, BMI and AHI. Fiber endoscope was used to assess the subsidence percentage of the pharynx wall. RESULT: Between OSAHS patients and pharyngeal paraesthesia patients, there was obviously difference in the retropalatal region and retroglossal region upper airway. The pharynx wall resiliences of retropalatal region were much more than that of retroglossal region. The later pharynx wall resiliences were much more than the fore-to-aft pharynx wall resiliences in the retropalatal region. BMI, AHI and the pharynx wall resilience were positive correlative to each other. But AHI and the pharynx wall resilience was nonlinear correlative. There was a good concordance between the pharynx wall resilience detected by 320CT and subsidence percentage of the pharynx wall detected by fiber endoscope. CONCLUSION: 320 slice CT is a kind of simple, rapid and objective method to localize the high resilience area of upper respiratory tract, which can be benefit to the clinical diagnosis, the etiological study and the treatment of OSAHS. Based on physical examination, we propose that only one time of CT scan to the patients' upper airway at the Muller' stage is enough to localize the stenosis area, which can reduce radiation dosage dramatically.

320-detector CT imaging of the upper airway structure of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is one of the most common sleep disorders that have significant associated health costs. It is caused by recurrent occlusion of the upper airway during sleep. Recently, many researchers have provided evidence that patients with OSAHS tend to have a large tongue, a comparatively prolonged soft palate, and a narrow upper airway.There are many therapeutic methods for OSAHS, although determining the obstructive points is very important. Several methods to study the morphology of the upper airway in patients with OSAHS are available: acoustic reflection, fluoroscopy, endoscopic observation, and computed tomography (CT). After our hospital took the lead in the introduction the first 320-detector CT in East China, our team studied the morphology of the upper airway in patients with OSAHS using this 320-detector CT.From July 2010 to July 2011, the upper airway of 66 patients with OSAHS and 22 control subjects were scanned using a 320-detector CT scanner at the time of deep inspiration, deep expiration, normal respiration, and Müller maneuver. Cross-sectional areas of the upper airway at the nasopharyngeal, velopharyngeal, and tongue-pharyngeal levels were measured and compared. Mean velopharyngeal cross-sectional areas in OSAHS were less than those in the control group at the time of deep inspiration, deep expiration, normal respiration, and Müller maneuver (P < 0.05). Mean tongue-pharyngeal cross-sectional areas in OSAHS were less than those in the control group at the time of deep inspiration and Müller maneuver (P < 0.05).The results showed that velopharyngeal and tongue-pharyngeal areas could be the main obstructive regions for OSAHS and that the 320-detector CT scanner would be of great utility in identifying the location of the upper airway obstruction in patients with OSAHS, in exploring the pathogenesis of OSAHS, and in designing the appropriate treatment plan and surgical positioning.