Multislice computed tomography angiography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Multislice CT angiography represents one of the most exciting technological revolutions in cardiac imaging and it has been increasingly used in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Rapid improvements in multislice CT scanners over the last decade have allowed this technique to become a potentially effective alternative to invasive coronary angiography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. High diagnostic value has been achieved with multislice CT angiography with use of 64- and more slice CT scanners. In addition, multislice CT angiography shows accurate detection and analysis of coronary calcium, characterization of coronary plaques, as well as prediction of the disease progression and major cardiac events. Thus, patients can benefit from multislice CT angiography that provides a rapid and accurate diagnosis while avoiding unnecessary invasive coronary angiography procedures. The aim of this article is present an overview of the clinical applications of multislice CT angiography in coronary artery disease with a focus on the diagnostic accuracy of coronary artery disease; prognostic value of coronary artery disease with regard to the prediction of major cardiac events; detection and quantification of coronary calcium and characterization of coronary plaques. Limitations of multislice CT angiography in coronary artery disease are also briefly discussed, and future directions are highlighted.

Perfusion of gastrodin in abdominal aorta for alleviating spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury

Objective:To observe the effects of perfusion of the gastrodin in abdominal aorta for alleviating the spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury(SCIRI).Methods:A total of 36 New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into sham-operated group(group S),control group(group C) and gastrodin group(group G),12 rabbits for each group.Aorta abdominalis infrarenalis blocking method was applied to establish the SCIRI model.The changes of motor evoked potentials(MEPs) before the ischemia and on 30 min,60 min,6 h,12 h and 24 h of reperfusion of the gastrodin were respectively recorded,and the neurologic function score before the ischemia,on the 6 h,12 h and 24 h of the reperfusion of the gastrodin were assessed.And the changes of the concentration of serum neuron specific enolase(NSE),interleukin(IL)-l β and IL-8 were measured before the ischemia,after 45 min of ischemia,and on 30 min,60 min,6 h,12 h and 24 h of reperfusion of gastrodin.Then the levels of spinal cord nerve cells mitochondrial superoxide dismutase(SOD),reactive oxygen species(ROS),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX),malondialdehyde(MDA),total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) and mitochondrial swelling degree(MSD) were tested and the histopathologic changes in spinal cord tissues were observed.Results:The levels of the NSE,IL-lfter the ischemβ,IL-8,ROS,MDA and MSD of group C were all significantly elevated aia(P<0.01);the levels of the spinal nerve cell mitochondria SOD,GSH-PX and T-AOC were all significantly reduced(P<0.01),MEPs and spinal cord tissue pathology were damaged significantly(P<0.01).The rate of motor neuron abnormalities and the damages of spinal cord tissue pathology of group G were significantly milder than those of group C(P<0.01);the levels of NSE,IL-lROS,MDA and MSD were significantly lower than those of group C(P< 0.01),but tβ,IL-8,he levels of SOD,GSH-PX and T-AOC were all significantly higher than those of group C(P<0.01),and the recovery of neurologic function score during the reperfusion of gastrodin was significantly faster than group C(P<0.01).Conclusions:Perfusion of the gastrodin in abdominal aorta can alleviate the spinal cord ischemiare perfusion injury by promoting the mitochondrial antioxidant capacity and inhibiting the inflammatory reaction.

Buried penis:a histological and histochemical study of dartos fascia

This study aimed to determine whether the abnormal deep layer of dartos fascia plays an important role in buried penis.Forty-nine patients with buried penis were treated with anatomical resection of the deep layer of dartos fascia under a microscope.Penile length was measured before and after completely resecting the deep layer to investigate the role of this layer in penile retraction.The superficial and deep layers of dartos fascia were collected from 49 patients with buried penis,the normal superficial layers were collected from 25 children/adults who underwent circumcision for nonmedical reasons,and the normal deep layers were collected from 20 adult cadavers.The penile fascia samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin,Masson’s trichrome,Sirius red,and Verhoeff’s Van Gieson,and subjected to immunohistochemical examination and scanning electron microscopy.The penile shaft(mean±standard deviation)was found to be significantly elongated after resecting the deep layer compared with that before resection(6.8±1.9 cm vs 6.0±1.6 cm,P<0.001).An abnormal deep layer of dartos fascia characterized by disordered and fragmented elastic fibers was observed in 87.8%(43/49)of buried penis samples,whereas no abnormal deep layer was observed in normal penises from cadavers(0/20,P<0.001).Thus,the abnormal deep layer of dartos fascia plays an important role in the buried penis.Its resection is helpful for avoiding recurrence.