String vessels are collapsed basement membrane without endothelium and have no function in circul... more String vessels are collapsed basement membrane without endothelium and have no function in circulation. String vessel formation contributes to vascular degeneration in Alzheimer disease. By comparing to age-matched control cases we have recently reported endothelial degeneration in brain capillaries of human Parkinson disease (PD). current study evaluated changes of basement membrane of capillaries, string vessel formation and their association with astrocytes, blood-brain-barrier integrity and neuronal degeneration in PD. Brain tissue from human cases of PD and age-matched controls was used. Immunohistochemical staining for collagen IV, GFAP, NeuN, tyrosine hydroxylase, fibrinogen and Factor VIII was evaluated by image analysis in the substantia nigra, caudate nucleus and middle frontal gyrus. While the basement-membrane-associated vessel density was similar between the two groups, the density of string vessels was significantly increased in the PD cases, particularly in the substa...
Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery
To explore effectiveness of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) in the treatment of obstructive s... more To explore effectiveness of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). MMA was performed in 10 OSAHS patients with mandibular dysplasia diagnosed by mandibular protrusion angle (SNB) < 75 degrees and a posterior airway space (PAS) < 11 mm. Six patients had uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) also. Six patients had over 6 months postoperative follow up. The blood loss was about 250-600 ml in the operation, and the serious complications didn't happen. The patients were satisfied with the postoperative facial change. Based on success criteria of 2009, of 5 patients showed highly responsive result and 1 patient was responsive (valid). rate was 83% and the responsive rate 100%. The snoring loudness score and Epworth sleepy score were reduced from preoperative 8 (6-10) and 15 (11-24) to postoperative 2 (0-4) and 5 (1-8). AHI was reduced from preoperative 52.2 (23.7-83.8) to postoperative 12.6 (7.6-31.8), lowest mean oxygen saturation increased from 0.64 (0.57-0.83) to 0.82 (0.78-0.93). Percentage of time with oxyhemoglobin saturation below 0.90 (CT90) reduced from 21.0% (12.0%-37.2%) to 2.0% (0%-8.0%). MMA is effective for the OSAHS patients with mandibular dysplasia.
Lin chuang er bi yan hou ke za zhi = Journal of clinical otorhinolaryngology
To compare the levels of the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and blood fat of the patients with obstr... more To compare the levels of the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and blood fat of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) before and after surgery, meanwhile to analyze the influence on blood glucose and blood fat after the changes of body mass index (BMI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSpO2). Thirty-one patients with severe OSAHS were performed Z-palatoplasty (ZPP) or ZPP combined with genioglossus advancement with hyoid suspension (GAHM). Cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and FBG were detected before and after surgery. Preoperative HDL was negatively related to BMI and AHI, but not LSpO2. After surgery the BMI, AHI, LSpO2, HDL and FBG were all improved. The change of HDL had correlation with the changes of BMI and AHI, and there was linear correlation with HDL and BMI (r= -0.36). The surgery of ZPP and ZPP combined with GAHM can improve the AHI, LSpO2, BMI, the FBG and blood fat of the patients with OSAHS. Lose weight and rectifying sleep disordered breathing were important to improve glycolipid metabolism disorder of the patients with OSAHS.
Lipid metabolism disorder is recognized to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); howe... more Lipid metabolism disorder is recognized to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, inconsistent results have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between lipid profile and OSA with adjustments for multiple confounding factors. In total, 2983 subjects were recruited from the Shanghai Sleep Health Study (SSHS) during 2007-2013. Data for overnight polysomnography (PSG) parameters, serum lipids, fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, and anthropometric measurements were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the correlation between lipid profile and OSA with adjustments for confounders including lipids, age, gender, Epworth sleepiness scale, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, glucose, insulin resistance, hypertension, and smoking. The prevalence of hyper total cholesterol (TC), hyper triglycerides, hypo high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyper low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hyper apo...
Di 1 jun yi da xue xue bao = Academic journal of the first medical college of PLA
To evaluate the value of conformal radio therapy in the treatment of primary hepatocellular carci... more To evaluate the value of conformal radio therapy in the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in advanced stages. Altogether 198 patients with advanced HCC underwent three-dimensional conformal radio therapy (3D-CRT) in a dose range 48 to 63 Gy in 6 to 9 fractions completed in a course of 12 to 18 d. The total clinical tumor volume (CTV) received more than 90% of the prescribed irradiation dose delivered through 6MV X ray. CT examinations were performed before 3D-CRT and in the three-year follow-up period to verify the therapeutic effects. Partial tumor remission was achieved in 81 cases (41%) 1 month after the treatment and 95 cases (48%) 3 months later. Ten cases (5%) failed to respond to the treatment, while the majority (186, 94%) showed tumor remission 6 months after the treatment, with only 2 cases (1%) had progression of the tumors. In the 48 patients with cancer embolus in the portal vein, 31 (65.6%) showed evidence of diminished embolus. The alpha-fetoprotein levels in the HCC patients were reduced significantly after the treatment (P=0.015). Among the stage-III patients 1-year survival rate was 68%, 2-year survival rate was 41%, and 3-year survival rate was 35%. 3D-CRT is an effective method for treating advanced HCC.
Di 1 jun yi da xue xue bao = Academic journal of the first medical college of PLA
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) on s... more To evaluate the therapeutic effect of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) on small hepatocellular carcinoma. Between May 1998 and Dec 2002, 32 patients with small primary hepatocellular carcinoma underwent 3D-CRT (mean total dose of 55 Gy, ranging from 48 to 63 Gy, given in 6 to 9 fractions completed within 12 to 18 d). The clinical target volumes (CTVs) were covered with 100% isodose curve, using 6 MV X-ray. CT studies before and during a follow-up period of 3 years after 3D-CRT were conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects, with alpha-feto-protein (AFP) levels also tested. Completed remission of the tumor occurred in 87.5% (28/32) of the cases, and partial remission (PR) was obtained in 12.5% (4/32) of the cases after one year. The 1-year survival rate at stage III was 100%, and 2- and 3-year survival rates were both 97%, with death occurring only in one case because of cerebral hemorrhage. AFP levels of these patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were all significantly decreased (P=0.025). 3D-CRT is an effective method in the treatment of patients with small primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
Abstract. Interactive image segmentation is important and has widespread applications in computer... more Abstract. Interactive image segmentation is important and has widespread applications in computer vision, computer graphics and medical imaging. A recent work has shown that interactive figure ground segmentation can be achieved by computing a transparency ...
Geographic Information System (GIS) based on Internet is a promising research field, which brings... more Geographic Information System (GIS) based on Internet is a promising research field, which brings new approaches to access, share and disseminate geographic information. However, current Internet-based GIS relies heavily on centralized server, which inevitably has drawbacks such as single points of failure and network congestion etc. In recent years, Peer-to-Peer (simply P2P) and Web services are two of hot research
Genetic alterations in the cells of intradural spinal tumors can have a significant impact on the... more Genetic alterations in the cells of intradural spinal tumors can have a significant impact on the treatment options, counseling, and prognosis for patients. Although surgery is the primary therapy for most intradural tumors, radiochemothera-peutic modalities and targeted interventions play an ever-evolving role in treating aggressive cancers and in addressing cancer recurrence in long-term survivors. Recent studies have helped delineate specific genetic and molecular differences between intradural spinal tumors and their intracranial counterparts and have also identified significant variation in therapeutic effects on these tumors. This review discusses the genetic and molecular alterations in the most common intradural spinal tumors in both adult and pediatrie patients, including nerve sheath tumors (that is, neurofibroma and schwannoma), meningioma, ependymoma, astrocytoma (that is, low-grade glioma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma), hemangioblastoma, and medulloblastoma. It also examines the genetics of metastatic tumors to the spinal cord, arising either from the CNS or from systemic sources. Importantly, the impact of this knowledge on therapeutic options and its application to clinical practice are discussed.
Study Design Retrospective case series. Objective Recent studies suggest that baseline hematocrit... more Study Design Retrospective case series. Objective Recent studies suggest that baseline hematocrit (Hct) levels may affect the surgical outcomes after orthopedic procedures. The authors examined whether preoperative Hct values had a significant effect on the hospital length of stay (LoS) after lumbar spinal procedures. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent routine lumbar spine procedures from November 2012 through September 2013. Patients were included if they had both a baseline Hct and hospital LoS recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: those with an Hct ≥ 40% (nonanemic) and those with an Hct < 40% (anemic). LoS after surgery was evaluated for each group. Results One hundred seventeen patients underwent lumbar spine procedures for lumbar stenosis (n = 34), symptomatic lumbar disk herniation (n = 39), lumbar spondylolisthesis (n = 26), lumbar adjacent segment disease (n = 8), or symptomatic recurrent lumbar disk herniation (n = 10). Mean LoS was 3.3 and 2.4 days in anemic (27 patients) and nonanemic groups (90 patients), respectively (p = 0.02). The linear regression analysis demonstrated that a decrease in Hct was associated with a longer stay. A decrease from preoperative to postoperative day 1 Hct of 3.5 points resulted in an increased LoS of 1 day (R (2) = 0.145; p = 0.002). The correlation of Hct decrease with longer LoS remained (β = 0.167, p = 0.006) after adjusting for other variables with multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions Lower preoperative Hct or a substantial decrease in Hct may contribute to longer hospitalization after lumbar spine surgery. These findings should prompt an investigation into the strategies for optimizing Hct levels in patients with preoperative anemia prior to lumbar spine procedures.
Lumbar dural defects are an uncommon but important cause of persistent intracranial hypotension i... more Lumbar dural defects are an uncommon but important cause of persistent intracranial hypotension in the neurosurgical population. We present a case of intracranial hypotension after elective craniotomy due to a lumbar puncture performed 3 weeks earlier. A 55-year-old female underwent uneventful craniotomy for clipping of an unruptured left middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm. Postoperatively, the patient showed a gaze deviation and failed to wake up. Computed tomography demonstrated significant postoperative pneumocephalus. Family members indicated that the patient underwent a lumbar puncture 3 weeks prior to surgery to rule out a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The excessive pneumocephalus was initially interpreted as a result of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, and the patient was placed in the Trendelenburg position. This positioning resulted in some improvement in her mental status, although she was unable to tolerate any subsequent elevation in the head of her bed. Magnetic res...
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene ε2 and ε4 alleles have been reported to be associated with the risk ... more Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene ε2 and ε4 alleles have been reported to be associated with the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, the results are controversial. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to obtain a more precise estimate of the associations by pooling sporadic, inconsistent and small-sample-size studies. Electronic databases such as PubMed and Embase were searched to identify eligible studies focusing on the association between ApoE polymorphisms and susceptibility to OSA before April 2014. The associations were assessed by odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Begg and Egger's test was used to evaluate publication bias. Ten eligible studies (1,696 cases/2,216 controls for the ε2 allele and 2,449 cases/5,592 controls for the ε4 allele) were included in the meta-analysis. An association between the ApoE ε2 and ε4 alleles and OSA was not found in the overall population (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.75-1.25; OR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.86-0.38 for ApoE ε2 and ε4...
Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA, Jan 2, 2015
Hong Kong's health system was established within the framework of a perfect market-oriented e... more Hong Kong's health system was established within the framework of a perfect market-oriented economic matrix, where there are wide-ranging social security and medical service systems. There are many differences in the economic foundations, social systems, and ideologies between Hong Kong and mainland China, therefore, it would probably be entirely impossible to copy Hong Kong's health care system mode. However, under the framework of one country, two systems, the referential significance of relevant concepts of Hong Kong's medical service system to mainland China cannot be ignored, and merits further study.
2005 First International Conference on Semantics, Knowledge and Grid, 2005
This paper presents a mechanism considering both browse and query for semantic information portal... more This paper presents a mechanism considering both browse and query for semantic information portals to retrieve information based on Knowledge Base. our browse mechanism utilizes ontology query languages to let users browse freely, and a graphical query interface is proposed to facilitate users formulating ontology -based query.
On the basis of the detection and estimation model of multiple moving targets, a new algorithm ba... more On the basis of the detection and estimation model of multiple moving targets, a new algorithm based on wavelet packet transform (WPT) and fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) is proposed for weak moving targets detection in sea clutter. The multi-resolution property of WPT and the characteristic of good energy concentration on LFM signals in FRFT domain are combined together. At first, optimal wavelet tree is calculated using “minimum Shannon entropy” and threshold censored method is used to suppress sea clutter of different frequency bands. Then, take the absolute amplitude of signals after FRFT as test statistic and search for peaks in two dimensions with the threshold. Grading iterative method is used for parameter estimation with fast calculation speed and the shading problem between multiple targets is solved through “CLEAN” method. In the end, simulations with IPIX data indicate that the proposed algorithm has good performance of detecting low-observable moving targets in sea clutter.
We have previously reported that the supplementation of ganglioside-enriched complex-milk-lipids ... more We have previously reported that the supplementation of ganglioside-enriched complex-milk-lipids improves cognitive function and that a phospholipid-enriched complex-milk-lipid prevents age-related cognitive decline in rats. This current study evaluated the effects of post-natal supplementation of ganglioside- and phospholipid-enriched complex-milk-lipids beta serum concentrate (BSC) on cognitive function in young rats. The diet of male rats was supplemented with either gels formulated BSC (n = 16) or blank gels (n = 16) from post-natal day 10 to day 70. Memory and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using the Morris water maze, dark-light boxes, and elevated plus maze tests. Neuroplasticity and white matter were measured using immunohistochemical staining. The overall performance in seven-day acquisition trials was similar between the groups. Compared with the control group, BSC supplementation reduced the latency to the platform during day one of the acquisition tests. Supplemen...
Seizures are a potentially devastating complication of brain tumors. Several studies in the past ... more Seizures are a potentially devastating complication of brain tumors. Several studies in the past have attempted to demonstrate that prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in patients with brain tumors can decrease the incidence of seizures. However, it is currently unclear whether AEDs should be routinely administered to patients with brain tumors who have never had a seizure. A meta-analysis of randomized trials was conducted to estimate the effectiveness of seizure prophylaxis in people with brain tumors. A range of electronic databases were searched (1966-2014): MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library Database, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) without language restrictions. Two independent reviewers assessed trials for eligibility and quality, and meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 12.0 software. Integrated Odd Ratio (OR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was calculated. Six RCTs were included with a total of 547 patients with brain tumors. The meta-analysis results revealed that patients with brain tumors who received prophylactic antiepileptic interventions did not have significantly lower epilepsy incidence than those in controlled groups (OR=0.939, 95%CI=0.609-1.448, z=0.29, P=0.775). Sensitivity analysis suggested the statistical results were robust. No publication bias was detected in this meta-analysis (P>0.05). Although some past studies indicated AEDs can be used in patients with brain tumors to relieve epilepsy, present integrated evidences cannot show in unequivocal terms that brain tumor patients can benefit from seizure prophylaxis.
String vessels are collapsed basement membrane without endothelium and have no function in circul... more String vessels are collapsed basement membrane without endothelium and have no function in circulation. String vessel formation contributes to vascular degeneration in Alzheimer disease. By comparing to age-matched control cases we have recently reported endothelial degeneration in brain capillaries of human Parkinson disease (PD). current study evaluated changes of basement membrane of capillaries, string vessel formation and their association with astrocytes, blood-brain-barrier integrity and neuronal degeneration in PD. Brain tissue from human cases of PD and age-matched controls was used. Immunohistochemical staining for collagen IV, GFAP, NeuN, tyrosine hydroxylase, fibrinogen and Factor VIII was evaluated by image analysis in the substantia nigra, caudate nucleus and middle frontal gyrus. While the basement-membrane-associated vessel density was similar between the two groups, the density of string vessels was significantly increased in the PD cases, particularly in the substa...
Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery
To explore effectiveness of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) in the treatment of obstructive s... more To explore effectiveness of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). MMA was performed in 10 OSAHS patients with mandibular dysplasia diagnosed by mandibular protrusion angle (SNB) < 75 degrees and a posterior airway space (PAS) < 11 mm. Six patients had uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) also. Six patients had over 6 months postoperative follow up. The blood loss was about 250-600 ml in the operation, and the serious complications didn't happen. The patients were satisfied with the postoperative facial change. Based on success criteria of 2009, of 5 patients showed highly responsive result and 1 patient was responsive (valid). rate was 83% and the responsive rate 100%. The snoring loudness score and Epworth sleepy score were reduced from preoperative 8 (6-10) and 15 (11-24) to postoperative 2 (0-4) and 5 (1-8). AHI was reduced from preoperative 52.2 (23.7-83.8) to postoperative 12.6 (7.6-31.8), lowest mean oxygen saturation increased from 0.64 (0.57-0.83) to 0.82 (0.78-0.93). Percentage of time with oxyhemoglobin saturation below 0.90 (CT90) reduced from 21.0% (12.0%-37.2%) to 2.0% (0%-8.0%). MMA is effective for the OSAHS patients with mandibular dysplasia.
Lin chuang er bi yan hou ke za zhi = Journal of clinical otorhinolaryngology
To compare the levels of the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and blood fat of the patients with obstr... more To compare the levels of the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and blood fat of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) before and after surgery, meanwhile to analyze the influence on blood glucose and blood fat after the changes of body mass index (BMI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSpO2). Thirty-one patients with severe OSAHS were performed Z-palatoplasty (ZPP) or ZPP combined with genioglossus advancement with hyoid suspension (GAHM). Cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and FBG were detected before and after surgery. Preoperative HDL was negatively related to BMI and AHI, but not LSpO2. After surgery the BMI, AHI, LSpO2, HDL and FBG were all improved. The change of HDL had correlation with the changes of BMI and AHI, and there was linear correlation with HDL and BMI (r= -0.36). The surgery of ZPP and ZPP combined with GAHM can improve the AHI, LSpO2, BMI, the FBG and blood fat of the patients with OSAHS. Lose weight and rectifying sleep disordered breathing were important to improve glycolipid metabolism disorder of the patients with OSAHS.
Lipid metabolism disorder is recognized to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); howe... more Lipid metabolism disorder is recognized to be associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, inconsistent results have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between lipid profile and OSA with adjustments for multiple confounding factors. In total, 2983 subjects were recruited from the Shanghai Sleep Health Study (SSHS) during 2007-2013. Data for overnight polysomnography (PSG) parameters, serum lipids, fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, and anthropometric measurements were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the correlation between lipid profile and OSA with adjustments for confounders including lipids, age, gender, Epworth sleepiness scale, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, glucose, insulin resistance, hypertension, and smoking. The prevalence of hyper total cholesterol (TC), hyper triglycerides, hypo high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyper low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hyper apo...
Di 1 jun yi da xue xue bao = Academic journal of the first medical college of PLA
To evaluate the value of conformal radio therapy in the treatment of primary hepatocellular carci... more To evaluate the value of conformal radio therapy in the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in advanced stages. Altogether 198 patients with advanced HCC underwent three-dimensional conformal radio therapy (3D-CRT) in a dose range 48 to 63 Gy in 6 to 9 fractions completed in a course of 12 to 18 d. The total clinical tumor volume (CTV) received more than 90% of the prescribed irradiation dose delivered through 6MV X ray. CT examinations were performed before 3D-CRT and in the three-year follow-up period to verify the therapeutic effects. Partial tumor remission was achieved in 81 cases (41%) 1 month after the treatment and 95 cases (48%) 3 months later. Ten cases (5%) failed to respond to the treatment, while the majority (186, 94%) showed tumor remission 6 months after the treatment, with only 2 cases (1%) had progression of the tumors. In the 48 patients with cancer embolus in the portal vein, 31 (65.6%) showed evidence of diminished embolus. The alpha-fetoprotein levels in the HCC patients were reduced significantly after the treatment (P=0.015). Among the stage-III patients 1-year survival rate was 68%, 2-year survival rate was 41%, and 3-year survival rate was 35%. 3D-CRT is an effective method for treating advanced HCC.
Di 1 jun yi da xue xue bao = Academic journal of the first medical college of PLA
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) on s... more To evaluate the therapeutic effect of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) on small hepatocellular carcinoma. Between May 1998 and Dec 2002, 32 patients with small primary hepatocellular carcinoma underwent 3D-CRT (mean total dose of 55 Gy, ranging from 48 to 63 Gy, given in 6 to 9 fractions completed within 12 to 18 d). The clinical target volumes (CTVs) were covered with 100% isodose curve, using 6 MV X-ray. CT studies before and during a follow-up period of 3 years after 3D-CRT were conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects, with alpha-feto-protein (AFP) levels also tested. Completed remission of the tumor occurred in 87.5% (28/32) of the cases, and partial remission (PR) was obtained in 12.5% (4/32) of the cases after one year. The 1-year survival rate at stage III was 100%, and 2- and 3-year survival rates were both 97%, with death occurring only in one case because of cerebral hemorrhage. AFP levels of these patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were all significantly decreased (P=0.025). 3D-CRT is an effective method in the treatment of patients with small primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
Abstract. Interactive image segmentation is important and has widespread applications in computer... more Abstract. Interactive image segmentation is important and has widespread applications in computer vision, computer graphics and medical imaging. A recent work has shown that interactive figure ground segmentation can be achieved by computing a transparency ...
Geographic Information System (GIS) based on Internet is a promising research field, which brings... more Geographic Information System (GIS) based on Internet is a promising research field, which brings new approaches to access, share and disseminate geographic information. However, current Internet-based GIS relies heavily on centralized server, which inevitably has drawbacks such as single points of failure and network congestion etc. In recent years, Peer-to-Peer (simply P2P) and Web services are two of hot research
Genetic alterations in the cells of intradural spinal tumors can have a significant impact on the... more Genetic alterations in the cells of intradural spinal tumors can have a significant impact on the treatment options, counseling, and prognosis for patients. Although surgery is the primary therapy for most intradural tumors, radiochemothera-peutic modalities and targeted interventions play an ever-evolving role in treating aggressive cancers and in addressing cancer recurrence in long-term survivors. Recent studies have helped delineate specific genetic and molecular differences between intradural spinal tumors and their intracranial counterparts and have also identified significant variation in therapeutic effects on these tumors. This review discusses the genetic and molecular alterations in the most common intradural spinal tumors in both adult and pediatrie patients, including nerve sheath tumors (that is, neurofibroma and schwannoma), meningioma, ependymoma, astrocytoma (that is, low-grade glioma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma), hemangioblastoma, and medulloblastoma. It also examines the genetics of metastatic tumors to the spinal cord, arising either from the CNS or from systemic sources. Importantly, the impact of this knowledge on therapeutic options and its application to clinical practice are discussed.
Study Design Retrospective case series. Objective Recent studies suggest that baseline hematocrit... more Study Design Retrospective case series. Objective Recent studies suggest that baseline hematocrit (Hct) levels may affect the surgical outcomes after orthopedic procedures. The authors examined whether preoperative Hct values had a significant effect on the hospital length of stay (LoS) after lumbar spinal procedures. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent routine lumbar spine procedures from November 2012 through September 2013. Patients were included if they had both a baseline Hct and hospital LoS recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: those with an Hct ≥ 40% (nonanemic) and those with an Hct < 40% (anemic). LoS after surgery was evaluated for each group. Results One hundred seventeen patients underwent lumbar spine procedures for lumbar stenosis (n = 34), symptomatic lumbar disk herniation (n = 39), lumbar spondylolisthesis (n = 26), lumbar adjacent segment disease (n = 8), or symptomatic recurrent lumbar disk herniation (n = 10). Mean LoS was 3.3 and 2.4 days in anemic (27 patients) and nonanemic groups (90 patients), respectively (p = 0.02). The linear regression analysis demonstrated that a decrease in Hct was associated with a longer stay. A decrease from preoperative to postoperative day 1 Hct of 3.5 points resulted in an increased LoS of 1 day (R (2) = 0.145; p = 0.002). The correlation of Hct decrease with longer LoS remained (β = 0.167, p = 0.006) after adjusting for other variables with multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions Lower preoperative Hct or a substantial decrease in Hct may contribute to longer hospitalization after lumbar spine surgery. These findings should prompt an investigation into the strategies for optimizing Hct levels in patients with preoperative anemia prior to lumbar spine procedures.
Lumbar dural defects are an uncommon but important cause of persistent intracranial hypotension i... more Lumbar dural defects are an uncommon but important cause of persistent intracranial hypotension in the neurosurgical population. We present a case of intracranial hypotension after elective craniotomy due to a lumbar puncture performed 3 weeks earlier. A 55-year-old female underwent uneventful craniotomy for clipping of an unruptured left middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysm. Postoperatively, the patient showed a gaze deviation and failed to wake up. Computed tomography demonstrated significant postoperative pneumocephalus. Family members indicated that the patient underwent a lumbar puncture 3 weeks prior to surgery to rule out a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The excessive pneumocephalus was initially interpreted as a result of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, and the patient was placed in the Trendelenburg position. This positioning resulted in some improvement in her mental status, although she was unable to tolerate any subsequent elevation in the head of her bed. Magnetic res...
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene ε2 and ε4 alleles have been reported to be associated with the risk ... more Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene ε2 and ε4 alleles have been reported to be associated with the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, the results are controversial. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to obtain a more precise estimate of the associations by pooling sporadic, inconsistent and small-sample-size studies. Electronic databases such as PubMed and Embase were searched to identify eligible studies focusing on the association between ApoE polymorphisms and susceptibility to OSA before April 2014. The associations were assessed by odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Begg and Egger's test was used to evaluate publication bias. Ten eligible studies (1,696 cases/2,216 controls for the ε2 allele and 2,449 cases/5,592 controls for the ε4 allele) were included in the meta-analysis. An association between the ApoE ε2 and ε4 alleles and OSA was not found in the overall population (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.75-1.25; OR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.86-0.38 for ApoE ε2 and ε4...
Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA, Jan 2, 2015
Hong Kong's health system was established within the framework of a perfect market-oriented e... more Hong Kong's health system was established within the framework of a perfect market-oriented economic matrix, where there are wide-ranging social security and medical service systems. There are many differences in the economic foundations, social systems, and ideologies between Hong Kong and mainland China, therefore, it would probably be entirely impossible to copy Hong Kong's health care system mode. However, under the framework of one country, two systems, the referential significance of relevant concepts of Hong Kong's medical service system to mainland China cannot be ignored, and merits further study.
2005 First International Conference on Semantics, Knowledge and Grid, 2005
This paper presents a mechanism considering both browse and query for semantic information portal... more This paper presents a mechanism considering both browse and query for semantic information portals to retrieve information based on Knowledge Base. our browse mechanism utilizes ontology query languages to let users browse freely, and a graphical query interface is proposed to facilitate users formulating ontology -based query.
On the basis of the detection and estimation model of multiple moving targets, a new algorithm ba... more On the basis of the detection and estimation model of multiple moving targets, a new algorithm based on wavelet packet transform (WPT) and fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) is proposed for weak moving targets detection in sea clutter. The multi-resolution property of WPT and the characteristic of good energy concentration on LFM signals in FRFT domain are combined together. At first, optimal wavelet tree is calculated using “minimum Shannon entropy” and threshold censored method is used to suppress sea clutter of different frequency bands. Then, take the absolute amplitude of signals after FRFT as test statistic and search for peaks in two dimensions with the threshold. Grading iterative method is used for parameter estimation with fast calculation speed and the shading problem between multiple targets is solved through “CLEAN” method. In the end, simulations with IPIX data indicate that the proposed algorithm has good performance of detecting low-observable moving targets in sea clutter.
We have previously reported that the supplementation of ganglioside-enriched complex-milk-lipids ... more We have previously reported that the supplementation of ganglioside-enriched complex-milk-lipids improves cognitive function and that a phospholipid-enriched complex-milk-lipid prevents age-related cognitive decline in rats. This current study evaluated the effects of post-natal supplementation of ganglioside- and phospholipid-enriched complex-milk-lipids beta serum concentrate (BSC) on cognitive function in young rats. The diet of male rats was supplemented with either gels formulated BSC (n = 16) or blank gels (n = 16) from post-natal day 10 to day 70. Memory and anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using the Morris water maze, dark-light boxes, and elevated plus maze tests. Neuroplasticity and white matter were measured using immunohistochemical staining. The overall performance in seven-day acquisition trials was similar between the groups. Compared with the control group, BSC supplementation reduced the latency to the platform during day one of the acquisition tests. Supplemen...
Seizures are a potentially devastating complication of brain tumors. Several studies in the past ... more Seizures are a potentially devastating complication of brain tumors. Several studies in the past have attempted to demonstrate that prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in patients with brain tumors can decrease the incidence of seizures. However, it is currently unclear whether AEDs should be routinely administered to patients with brain tumors who have never had a seizure. A meta-analysis of randomized trials was conducted to estimate the effectiveness of seizure prophylaxis in people with brain tumors. A range of electronic databases were searched (1966-2014): MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library Database, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) without language restrictions. Two independent reviewers assessed trials for eligibility and quality, and meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 12.0 software. Integrated Odd Ratio (OR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was calculated. Six RCTs were included with a total of 547 patients with brain tumors. The meta-analysis results revealed that patients with brain tumors who received prophylactic antiepileptic interventions did not have significantly lower epilepsy incidence than those in controlled groups (OR=0.939, 95%CI=0.609-1.448, z=0.29, P=0.775). Sensitivity analysis suggested the statistical results were robust. No publication bias was detected in this meta-analysis (P>0.05). Although some past studies indicated AEDs can be used in patients with brain tumors to relieve epilepsy, present integrated evidences cannot show in unequivocal terms that brain tumor patients can benefit from seizure prophylaxis.
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