Objective: To evaluate of the role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)in percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) with the Amplatzer septal occluder. Methods:Sixty- two patients (10 to 55 years of age...Objective: To evaluate of the role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)in percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) with the Amplatzer septal occluder. Methods:Sixty- two patients (10 to 55 years of age) were selected for percutaneous closure of ASD bytrans-esophageal echocardiography, which was also used to monitor the procedure, to select theappropriate size of the Amplatzer device, to verify its position, and to access the immediateresults of the procedure. During the follow-up, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or TEE was usedto evaluate the presence and magnitude of residual shunt (RS), device position, and right cardiacchamber diameters. Results: The mean ASD diameter by TTE ([19. 1 +- 5. 8] mm) was significantlysmaller (P< 0. 001) than the stretched diameter of the ASD (25. 1 +- 6. 4) mm. There are nosignificant differences between the TEE -measured value (23. 5+_6. 2) mm and the stretched diameterof the ASD (P > 0. 05). Due to proper patient selection all procedures were successful. There wasimmediate and complete closure in 61/62 patients, only one patients had trivial residual shunt.Follow- up was performed using TTE or TEE right after operation, 1 d, 1 month, 3 months, 6 monthsand yearly thereafter. Ail, patients remain asymptomatic without any clinical or technical problems.Conclusion: With the aid of TEE, percutaneous closure of ASD can be performed successfully, safely,and effectively.展开更多
Portal hypertension is a common clinical syndrome, defined by a pathologic increase in the portal venous pressure. Increased resistance to portal blood flow, the primary factor in the pathophysiology of portal hyperte...Portal hypertension is a common clinical syndrome, defined by a pathologic increase in the portal venous pressure. Increased resistance to portal blood flow, the primary factor in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension, is in part due to morphological changes occurring in chronic liver diseases. This results in rerouting of blood flow away from the liver through collateral pathways to low-pressure systemic veins. Through a variety of computed tomographic, sonographic, magnetic resonance imaging and angiographic examples, this article discusses the appearances and prevalence of both common and less common portosystemic collateral channels in the thorax and abdomen. A brief overview of established interventional radiologic techniques for treatment of portal hypertension will also be provided. Awareness of the various imaging manifestations of portal hypertension can be helpful for assessing overall prognosis and planning proper management.展开更多
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease that affects elderly population.Open surgical repair is regarded as the gold standard technique for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm,however,endovaseular an...Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease that affects elderly population.Open surgical repair is regarded as the gold standard technique for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm,however,endovaseular aneurysm repair has rapidly expanded since its first introduction in 1990s.As a less invasive technique,endovascular aneurysm repair has been confirmed to be an effective alternative to open surgical repair,especially in patients with co-morbid conditions.Computed tomography (CT) angiography is currently the preferred imaging modality for both preoperative planning and post-operative follow-up.2D CT images are complemented by a number of 3D reconstructions which enhance the diagnostic applications of CT angiography in both planning and follow-up of endovascular repair.CT has the disadvantage of high cummulative radiation dose,of particular concern in younger patients,since patients require regular imaging follow-ups after endovascular repair,thus,exposing patients to repeated radiation exposure for life.There is a trend to change from CT to ultrasound surveillance of endovascular aneurysm repair.Medical image visualizations demonstrate excellent morphological assessment of aneurysm and stent-grafts,but fail to provide hemodynamic changes caused by the complex stent-graft device that is implanted into the aorta.This article reviews the treatment options of abdominal aortic aneurysm,various image visualization tools,and follow-up procedures with use of different modalities including both imaging and computational fluid dynamics methods.Future directions to improve treatment outcomes in the follow-up of endovascular aneurysm repair are outlined.展开更多
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is associated with a favorable outcome only in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) pattern and in patients with a QRS duration 〉 150 ms, in patients with non-LBBB...Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is associated with a favorable outcome only in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) pattern and in patients with a QRS duration 〉 150 ms, in patients with non-LBBB pattern with a QRS duration of 120-150 ms usually is not beneficial. After adjusting for QRS duration, QRS morphology was no longer a determinant of the clinical response to CRT. In contrast to the mainstream view, we hypothesized that the unfavorable CRT outcome in patients with non-LBBB and a QRS duration of 120-150 ms is not due to the QRS morphology itself, but to less dyssynchrony and unfavorable patient characteristics in this subgroup, such as more ischemic etiology and greater prevalence of male patients compared with patients with LBBB pattern. Further, the current CRT technique is devised to eliminate the dyssynchrony present in patients with LBBB pattern and inappropriate to eliminate the dyssynchrony in patients with non-LBBB pattern. We also hypothesized that electrocardiography may also provide information about the presence of interventricular and left intraventricular dyssynchrony and the approximate location of the latest activated left ventricular (LV) region. To this end, we devised new ECG criteria to estimate interventricular and LV intraventricular dyssynchrony and the approximate location of the latest activated LV region. Our preliminary data demonstrated that the latest activated LV region in patients with nonspecific intraventricular conduction disturbance (NICD) pattern might be at a remote site from that present in patients with LBBB pattern, which might necessitate the invention of a novel CRT technique for patients with NICD pattern. The application of the new interventricular and LV intraventricular dyssynchrony ECG criteria and a potential novel CRT technique might decrease the currently high nonresponder rate in patients with NICD pattern.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of electrocorticographic(ECoG) monitoring and the application of different surgical approaches in the surgical treatment of solitary supretentorial cavernous malformations with secon...Objective To evaluate the efficacy of electrocorticographic(ECoG) monitoring and the application of different surgical approaches in the surgical treatment of solitary supretentorial cavernous malformations with secondary epilepsy. Methods This study enrolled a consecutive series of 36 patients with solitary supratentorial cavernous malformations and secondary epilepsy who underwent surgery with intraoperative ECoG monitoring in the Department of Neurosurgery between January 2004 and January 2008. The patients were composed of 15 males and 21 females, aged between 8 and 52 years(mean age 27.3±2.8 years) at the time of surgery. Epilepsy history, the type of epilepsy at the presentation, lesion location, the incidence of residual epileptiform discharges, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Results Histopathological examination indicated cavernous malformations and hippocampal sclerosis in 36 and 5 cases, respectively. Neuronal degeneration, glial cell proliferation, and neurofibrillary tangles were found in all the resected cerebral tissues of extended lesionectomy of residual epileptic foci. Lesionectomy, anterior temporal lobectomy, anterior temporal lobectomy plus cortical thermocoagulation, extended lesionectomy, extended lesionectomy plus cortical thermocoagulation were performed in 4, 4, 1, 14, and 13 cases, respectively. Residual epileptiform discharges were captured in 9 out of the 14 patients who had additional cortical thermocoagulation. According to Engle class for postoperative outcomes, 27 cases were class I(75.00%), 5 were class II(13.89%), 2 were class III(5.56%), and 2 were class IV(5.56%), thus the total effective rate(class I+class II) was 88.89%. Neither of epilepsy history, the type of epilepsy, and the location of cavernous malformation was significantly related to outcomes(P>0.05). A significant relationship was found between the incidence of residual epileptiform discharges and outcomes(P=0.041). Conclusions Intraoperative ECoG monitoring, the application of different surgical approaches, and the resection of residual epileptic foci could produce good result in the surgical treatment of supratentorial cavernous malformation with secondary epilepsy. Postoperative residual epileptiform discharges could be a useful predictor for evaluating the outcomes.展开更多
in imaging techniques are changing the way radiologists undertake imaging of the gastrointestinal tract and their ability to answer questions posed by surgeons. In this paper we discuss the technological improvements ...in imaging techniques are changing the way radiologists undertake imaging of the gastrointestinal tract and their ability to answer questions posed by surgeons. In this paper we discuss the technological improvements of imaging studies that have occurred in the last few years and how these help to better diagnosing alimentary tract disease.展开更多
To investigate inter- and intra-hemispheric electroencephalography (EEG) coherence at rest and during photic stimulation of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thirty-five patients (12 males, 23 females; 52~6...To investigate inter- and intra-hemispheric electroencephalography (EEG) coherence at rest and during photic stimulation of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thirty-five patients (12 males, 23 females; 52~64 y) and 33 sex- and age-matched controls (12 males, 21 females; 56~65 y) were recruited in the present study. EEG signals from C3-C4, P3-P4, T5-T6and O1-O2 electrode pairs resulted from the inter-hemispheric action, and EEG signals from C3-P3, C4-P4, P3-O1, P4-O2, C3-O1,C4-O2, T5-O 1 and T6-O2 electrode pairs resulted from the intra-hemispheric action. The influence of inter- and intra-hemispheric coherence on EEG activity with eyes closed was examined, using fast Fourier transformation from the 16 sampled channels. The frequencies of photic stimulation were fixed at 5, 10 and 15 Hz, respectively. The general decrease of AD patients in inter- and intra-hemispheric EEG coherence was more significant than that of the normal controls at the resting EEG, with most striking decrease observed in the alpha-1 (8.0-9.0 Hz) and alpha-2 (9.5-12.5 Hz) bands. During photic stimulation, inter- and intra-hemispheric EEG coherences of the AD patients having lower values in the alpha (9.5-10.5 Hz) band than those of the control group. It suggests that under stimulated and non-stimulated conditions, AD patients had impaired inter- and intra-hemispheric functional connections, indicating failure of brain activation in alpha-related frequency.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the usefulness of quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG), flash visual evoked potential (F-VEP) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) as indicators of general neurological status. Method...Objective To evaluate the usefulness of quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG), flash visual evoked potential (F-VEP) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) as indicators of general neurological status. Methods Comparison was conducted on healthy controls (N=30) and patients with brain concussion (N=60) within 24 h after traumatic brain injury. Follow-up study of patient group was completed with the same standard paradigm 3 months later. All participants were recorded in multi-modality related potential testing in both early and late concussion at the same clinical setting. Glasgow coma scale, CT scanning, and physical examinations of neuro-psychological function, optic and auditory nervous system were performed before electroencephalogram (EEG) and evoked potential (EEG-EP) testing. Any participants showed abnormal changes of clinical examinations were excluded from the study. Average power of frequency spectrum and power ratios were selected for QEEG testing, and latency and amplitude of F-VEP and ABR were recorded. Results Between patients and normal controls, the results indicated: (1) Highly significance (P 〈 0.01) in average power of α1 and power ratios of θ/α1, 0/α2, α1/α2 of EEG recording; (2) N70-P 100 amplitude of F-VEP in significant difference at early brain concussion; and (3) apparent prolongation of Ⅰ~Ⅲ inter-peak latency of ABR appeared in some individuals at early stage after concussion. The follow-up study showed that some patients with concussion were also afflicted with characteristic changes of EEG components for both increments of α1 average power and θ/α2 power ratio after 3 months recording. Conclusion EEG testing has been shown to be more effective and sensitive than evoked potential tests alone on detecting functional state of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Increments of α1 average power and θ/α2 power ratio are the sensitive EEG parameters to determining early concussion and evaluating outcome of postconcussion symptoms (PCS). Follow-up study associated with persistent PCS may be consistent with the postulate of substantial biological, rather than psychological origin. The study suggests that combination of EEG and EP parameters can contribute to the evaluation of brain function as a whole for clinical and forensic applications.展开更多
AIM To compare the effects of renal transplantation on cardiac functions in children and adults.METHODS One hundred and ten patients attending the nephrology outpatient clinic were enrolled in this study and were divi...AIM To compare the effects of renal transplantation on cardiac functions in children and adults.METHODS One hundred and ten patients attending the nephrology outpatient clinic were enrolled in this study and were divided into six groups. The first two groups consisted each of 30 renal transplant patients who had a successful renal transplantation more than six months, but less than one year. Group Ⅰ were less than 18 years and group Ⅱ were more than 18 years. The third and fourth groups, each were 20 chronic renal failure patients on regular hemodialysis. Again, group Ⅲ were less than 18 years and group Ⅳ were more than 18 years. Group Ⅴ and Ⅵ(The control Groups) consisted each of 5 subjects below and above 18 years of age, respectively with normal kidney functions. All patients were subjected to history and examination. The kidney functions and the hemoglobin were analyzed. Afterobtaining informed consent, echocardiography was done to all patients.RESULTS There was a statistically significant improvement(P < 0.0001) in all cardiac parameters. A regression in left ventricular end diastolic volume(LVED) both in children(4.7 ± 0.8 to 4.2 ± 0.5) and in adults(5.9 ± 0.7 to 4.9 ± 0.6) were found. There was a regression in left ventricular end systolic volume(LVES) both in children(3.1 ± 0.6 to 2.4 ± 0.4) and in adults(4.1 ± 0.9 to 3.1 ± 0.5). Fractional shortening improves both in children(32.6 ± 5.3 to 41.7 ± 7.6) and in adults(29.0 ± 6.6 to 36.5 ± 4.1). The improvement in ejection fraction(EF) was higher in children(59.7 ± 7.0 to 71.9 ± 6.1) than in adults(52.0 ± 12.5 to 64.8 ± 5.9). However, this degree of improvement(in children: 12.2 ± 5.1) did not show statistical difference(P-value 0.8), when compared to adults(12.7 ± 9.8). CONCLUSION After renal transplantation cardiac functions and morphology(EF/LVED/LVES) do improve markedly and rapidly in both children and adults.展开更多
Christopher Janaway's recent book on Plato's critique of the arts discusses, among other things, Book 10 of the Republic. This paper claims that his comments upon passages in Republic 10 overl Plato's ook the Ion a...Christopher Janaway's recent book on Plato's critique of the arts discusses, among other things, Book 10 of the Republic. This paper claims that his comments upon passages in Republic 10 overl Plato's ook the Ion and status of the Republic as itself a work of dramatic mimesis, ignore the dialectical form of the work, and miss that in various dialogues, Plato evinces a high view of poetry and the arts and even envisions a techne poietike. The paper defends these claims by constructing a three-stage argument that Plato holds a high view of poetry: (1) It first sketches an outline of a reading of the Ion as a dialogue that, despite being aporetic, nevertheless points ahead to a Socratic philosophizing that is craft-like and open to divine inspiration, and not only recognizes the value of poetry but also sometimes composes poetry; (2) Then, it discusses Socrates' use, in his conversational strategies in the Republic, of the techne of rhetoric described in the Phaedrus; and finally, (3) It considers four arguments against mimetic poetry in Republic 10 (598b8-606d7), and sketches an interpretation of them that takes issue with Janaway's. It argues that they are meant to invite readers to a higher dialectical standpoint, from which might come into view the value of mimetic poetry to a community guided by a Basilike techne展开更多
文摘Objective: To evaluate of the role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)in percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) with the Amplatzer septal occluder. Methods:Sixty- two patients (10 to 55 years of age) were selected for percutaneous closure of ASD bytrans-esophageal echocardiography, which was also used to monitor the procedure, to select theappropriate size of the Amplatzer device, to verify its position, and to access the immediateresults of the procedure. During the follow-up, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) or TEE was usedto evaluate the presence and magnitude of residual shunt (RS), device position, and right cardiacchamber diameters. Results: The mean ASD diameter by TTE ([19. 1 +- 5. 8] mm) was significantlysmaller (P< 0. 001) than the stretched diameter of the ASD (25. 1 +- 6. 4) mm. There are nosignificant differences between the TEE -measured value (23. 5+_6. 2) mm and the stretched diameterof the ASD (P > 0. 05). Due to proper patient selection all procedures were successful. There wasimmediate and complete closure in 61/62 patients, only one patients had trivial residual shunt.Follow- up was performed using TTE or TEE right after operation, 1 d, 1 month, 3 months, 6 monthsand yearly thereafter. Ail, patients remain asymptomatic without any clinical or technical problems.Conclusion: With the aid of TEE, percutaneous closure of ASD can be performed successfully, safely,and effectively.
文摘Portal hypertension is a common clinical syndrome, defined by a pathologic increase in the portal venous pressure. Increased resistance to portal blood flow, the primary factor in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension, is in part due to morphological changes occurring in chronic liver diseases. This results in rerouting of blood flow away from the liver through collateral pathways to low-pressure systemic veins. Through a variety of computed tomographic, sonographic, magnetic resonance imaging and angiographic examples, this article discusses the appearances and prevalence of both common and less common portosystemic collateral channels in the thorax and abdomen. A brief overview of established interventional radiologic techniques for treatment of portal hypertension will also be provided. Awareness of the various imaging manifestations of portal hypertension can be helpful for assessing overall prognosis and planning proper management.
文摘Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease that affects elderly population.Open surgical repair is regarded as the gold standard technique for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm,however,endovaseular aneurysm repair has rapidly expanded since its first introduction in 1990s.As a less invasive technique,endovascular aneurysm repair has been confirmed to be an effective alternative to open surgical repair,especially in patients with co-morbid conditions.Computed tomography (CT) angiography is currently the preferred imaging modality for both preoperative planning and post-operative follow-up.2D CT images are complemented by a number of 3D reconstructions which enhance the diagnostic applications of CT angiography in both planning and follow-up of endovascular repair.CT has the disadvantage of high cummulative radiation dose,of particular concern in younger patients,since patients require regular imaging follow-ups after endovascular repair,thus,exposing patients to repeated radiation exposure for life.There is a trend to change from CT to ultrasound surveillance of endovascular aneurysm repair.Medical image visualizations demonstrate excellent morphological assessment of aneurysm and stent-grafts,but fail to provide hemodynamic changes caused by the complex stent-graft device that is implanted into the aorta.This article reviews the treatment options of abdominal aortic aneurysm,various image visualization tools,and follow-up procedures with use of different modalities including both imaging and computational fluid dynamics methods.Future directions to improve treatment outcomes in the follow-up of endovascular aneurysm repair are outlined.
文摘Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is associated with a favorable outcome only in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) pattern and in patients with a QRS duration 〉 150 ms, in patients with non-LBBB pattern with a QRS duration of 120-150 ms usually is not beneficial. After adjusting for QRS duration, QRS morphology was no longer a determinant of the clinical response to CRT. In contrast to the mainstream view, we hypothesized that the unfavorable CRT outcome in patients with non-LBBB and a QRS duration of 120-150 ms is not due to the QRS morphology itself, but to less dyssynchrony and unfavorable patient characteristics in this subgroup, such as more ischemic etiology and greater prevalence of male patients compared with patients with LBBB pattern. Further, the current CRT technique is devised to eliminate the dyssynchrony present in patients with LBBB pattern and inappropriate to eliminate the dyssynchrony in patients with non-LBBB pattern. We also hypothesized that electrocardiography may also provide information about the presence of interventricular and left intraventricular dyssynchrony and the approximate location of the latest activated left ventricular (LV) region. To this end, we devised new ECG criteria to estimate interventricular and LV intraventricular dyssynchrony and the approximate location of the latest activated LV region. Our preliminary data demonstrated that the latest activated LV region in patients with nonspecific intraventricular conduction disturbance (NICD) pattern might be at a remote site from that present in patients with LBBB pattern, which might necessitate the invention of a novel CRT technique for patients with NICD pattern. The application of the new interventricular and LV intraventricular dyssynchrony ECG criteria and a potential novel CRT technique might decrease the currently high nonresponder rate in patients with NICD pattern.
文摘Objective To evaluate the efficacy of electrocorticographic(ECoG) monitoring and the application of different surgical approaches in the surgical treatment of solitary supretentorial cavernous malformations with secondary epilepsy. Methods This study enrolled a consecutive series of 36 patients with solitary supratentorial cavernous malformations and secondary epilepsy who underwent surgery with intraoperative ECoG monitoring in the Department of Neurosurgery between January 2004 and January 2008. The patients were composed of 15 males and 21 females, aged between 8 and 52 years(mean age 27.3±2.8 years) at the time of surgery. Epilepsy history, the type of epilepsy at the presentation, lesion location, the incidence of residual epileptiform discharges, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Results Histopathological examination indicated cavernous malformations and hippocampal sclerosis in 36 and 5 cases, respectively. Neuronal degeneration, glial cell proliferation, and neurofibrillary tangles were found in all the resected cerebral tissues of extended lesionectomy of residual epileptic foci. Lesionectomy, anterior temporal lobectomy, anterior temporal lobectomy plus cortical thermocoagulation, extended lesionectomy, extended lesionectomy plus cortical thermocoagulation were performed in 4, 4, 1, 14, and 13 cases, respectively. Residual epileptiform discharges were captured in 9 out of the 14 patients who had additional cortical thermocoagulation. According to Engle class for postoperative outcomes, 27 cases were class I(75.00%), 5 were class II(13.89%), 2 were class III(5.56%), and 2 were class IV(5.56%), thus the total effective rate(class I+class II) was 88.89%. Neither of epilepsy history, the type of epilepsy, and the location of cavernous malformation was significantly related to outcomes(P>0.05). A significant relationship was found between the incidence of residual epileptiform discharges and outcomes(P=0.041). Conclusions Intraoperative ECoG monitoring, the application of different surgical approaches, and the resection of residual epileptic foci could produce good result in the surgical treatment of supratentorial cavernous malformation with secondary epilepsy. Postoperative residual epileptiform discharges could be a useful predictor for evaluating the outcomes.
文摘in imaging techniques are changing the way radiologists undertake imaging of the gastrointestinal tract and their ability to answer questions posed by surgeons. In this paper we discuss the technological improvements of imaging studies that have occurred in the last few years and how these help to better diagnosing alimentary tract disease.
基金Project supported by the Foundation from the Health Bureau ofZhejiang Province (2004-2005) and the Science & Technology pro-ject of Zhejiang Province (2004-2005) China
文摘To investigate inter- and intra-hemispheric electroencephalography (EEG) coherence at rest and during photic stimulation of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thirty-five patients (12 males, 23 females; 52~64 y) and 33 sex- and age-matched controls (12 males, 21 females; 56~65 y) were recruited in the present study. EEG signals from C3-C4, P3-P4, T5-T6and O1-O2 electrode pairs resulted from the inter-hemispheric action, and EEG signals from C3-P3, C4-P4, P3-O1, P4-O2, C3-O1,C4-O2, T5-O 1 and T6-O2 electrode pairs resulted from the intra-hemispheric action. The influence of inter- and intra-hemispheric coherence on EEG activity with eyes closed was examined, using fast Fourier transformation from the 16 sampled channels. The frequencies of photic stimulation were fixed at 5, 10 and 15 Hz, respectively. The general decrease of AD patients in inter- and intra-hemispheric EEG coherence was more significant than that of the normal controls at the resting EEG, with most striking decrease observed in the alpha-1 (8.0-9.0 Hz) and alpha-2 (9.5-12.5 Hz) bands. During photic stimulation, inter- and intra-hemispheric EEG coherences of the AD patients having lower values in the alpha (9.5-10.5 Hz) band than those of the control group. It suggests that under stimulated and non-stimulated conditions, AD patients had impaired inter- and intra-hemispheric functional connections, indicating failure of brain activation in alpha-related frequency.
基金This work was supported in part by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30571909) China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 32134006) Foundation of Soozhow University (No. Q4134405).
文摘Objective To evaluate the usefulness of quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG), flash visual evoked potential (F-VEP) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) as indicators of general neurological status. Methods Comparison was conducted on healthy controls (N=30) and patients with brain concussion (N=60) within 24 h after traumatic brain injury. Follow-up study of patient group was completed with the same standard paradigm 3 months later. All participants were recorded in multi-modality related potential testing in both early and late concussion at the same clinical setting. Glasgow coma scale, CT scanning, and physical examinations of neuro-psychological function, optic and auditory nervous system were performed before electroencephalogram (EEG) and evoked potential (EEG-EP) testing. Any participants showed abnormal changes of clinical examinations were excluded from the study. Average power of frequency spectrum and power ratios were selected for QEEG testing, and latency and amplitude of F-VEP and ABR were recorded. Results Between patients and normal controls, the results indicated: (1) Highly significance (P 〈 0.01) in average power of α1 and power ratios of θ/α1, 0/α2, α1/α2 of EEG recording; (2) N70-P 100 amplitude of F-VEP in significant difference at early brain concussion; and (3) apparent prolongation of Ⅰ~Ⅲ inter-peak latency of ABR appeared in some individuals at early stage after concussion. The follow-up study showed that some patients with concussion were also afflicted with characteristic changes of EEG components for both increments of α1 average power and θ/α2 power ratio after 3 months recording. Conclusion EEG testing has been shown to be more effective and sensitive than evoked potential tests alone on detecting functional state of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Increments of α1 average power and θ/α2 power ratio are the sensitive EEG parameters to determining early concussion and evaluating outcome of postconcussion symptoms (PCS). Follow-up study associated with persistent PCS may be consistent with the postulate of substantial biological, rather than psychological origin. The study suggests that combination of EEG and EP parameters can contribute to the evaluation of brain function as a whole for clinical and forensic applications.
文摘AIM To compare the effects of renal transplantation on cardiac functions in children and adults.METHODS One hundred and ten patients attending the nephrology outpatient clinic were enrolled in this study and were divided into six groups. The first two groups consisted each of 30 renal transplant patients who had a successful renal transplantation more than six months, but less than one year. Group Ⅰ were less than 18 years and group Ⅱ were more than 18 years. The third and fourth groups, each were 20 chronic renal failure patients on regular hemodialysis. Again, group Ⅲ were less than 18 years and group Ⅳ were more than 18 years. Group Ⅴ and Ⅵ(The control Groups) consisted each of 5 subjects below and above 18 years of age, respectively with normal kidney functions. All patients were subjected to history and examination. The kidney functions and the hemoglobin were analyzed. Afterobtaining informed consent, echocardiography was done to all patients.RESULTS There was a statistically significant improvement(P < 0.0001) in all cardiac parameters. A regression in left ventricular end diastolic volume(LVED) both in children(4.7 ± 0.8 to 4.2 ± 0.5) and in adults(5.9 ± 0.7 to 4.9 ± 0.6) were found. There was a regression in left ventricular end systolic volume(LVES) both in children(3.1 ± 0.6 to 2.4 ± 0.4) and in adults(4.1 ± 0.9 to 3.1 ± 0.5). Fractional shortening improves both in children(32.6 ± 5.3 to 41.7 ± 7.6) and in adults(29.0 ± 6.6 to 36.5 ± 4.1). The improvement in ejection fraction(EF) was higher in children(59.7 ± 7.0 to 71.9 ± 6.1) than in adults(52.0 ± 12.5 to 64.8 ± 5.9). However, this degree of improvement(in children: 12.2 ± 5.1) did not show statistical difference(P-value 0.8), when compared to adults(12.7 ± 9.8). CONCLUSION After renal transplantation cardiac functions and morphology(EF/LVED/LVES) do improve markedly and rapidly in both children and adults.
文摘Christopher Janaway's recent book on Plato's critique of the arts discusses, among other things, Book 10 of the Republic. This paper claims that his comments upon passages in Republic 10 overl Plato's ook the Ion and status of the Republic as itself a work of dramatic mimesis, ignore the dialectical form of the work, and miss that in various dialogues, Plato evinces a high view of poetry and the arts and even envisions a techne poietike. The paper defends these claims by constructing a three-stage argument that Plato holds a high view of poetry: (1) It first sketches an outline of a reading of the Ion as a dialogue that, despite being aporetic, nevertheless points ahead to a Socratic philosophizing that is craft-like and open to divine inspiration, and not only recognizes the value of poetry but also sometimes composes poetry; (2) Then, it discusses Socrates' use, in his conversational strategies in the Republic, of the techne of rhetoric described in the Phaedrus; and finally, (3) It considers four arguments against mimetic poetry in Republic 10 (598b8-606d7), and sketches an interpretation of them that takes issue with Janaway's. It argues that they are meant to invite readers to a higher dialectical standpoint, from which might come into view the value of mimetic poetry to a community guided by a Basilike techne