ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: To have anatomic measurements of carotid artery bifurcation (CAB) with 64-spiral computed tomography angiography (64-SCTA), and provide anatomic basis for related research. Methods: Imaging data of 92 subjects (45 males, 47 females, the age range 20-82 years and mean age 48.4 ± 6.1 years) without pathology of CAB, who underwent 64-SCTA in head and neck from June 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010, were selected from the Picture Archiving and Communication Systems in Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China. On the 3D images, the angle and size of CAB were measured, and the statistical comparisons of measurements were made between the bilateral, sex and age groups. Results: The measurements of CAB were divided into young (≤ 40 years) and older (> 40 years) groups: bifurcation angle is 36.206° ± 10.210° and 49.343° ± 16.489°, respectively; the inner diameter of common carotid artery (CCA) is 6.820 ± 0.635 and 6.845 ± 0.838 mm, respectively; the proximal inner diameter of internal carotid artery (ICA) is 7.143 ± 0.992 and 7.476 ± 1.630 mm, of the enlargement is 7.568 ± 1.069 and 8.554 ± 1.733 mm, of the distal is 4.897 ± 0.508 and 5.123 ± 0.699 mm, respectively; the inner diameter of external carotid artery (ECA) is 4.324 ± 0.580 and 4.104 ± 0.638 mm, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in all the measurements between male and female groups, in the bifurcation angle, inner diameters of ICA and ECA between young and older groups, and in the bifurcation angle between the left and right (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A 64-SCTA with 3D image post-processing technique can clearly observe and show the CAB. All CAB measurements will provide the objective basis for applied anatomy, imaging diagnosis and surgery treatment.
ABSTRACT
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine sera from twelve Taiwanese children with eosinophilic meningitis suspected to be induced by infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Polystyrene tubes were coated with Angiostrongylus cantonensis antigens (5 micrograms/ml protein) prepared from fourth-stage larvae recovered from the brains of experimentally infected rats. Alkaline phosphatase labelled goat antihuman IgG conjugate was used in a dilution of 1 to 500; sera were diluted 1 to 1000. Positive control sera were from patients with parasitologically confirmed infections; the negative control sera from healthy persons. The ELISA values for sera from suspected cases of angiostrongyliasis ranged from 4.5 to 23.1; the positive control sera, 12.7 to 34.4 and the negative control sera 1.3 and 2.2. The assay shows promise and with the use of more purified antigens, micromethods and automated ELISA readers it should become valuable in the presumptive diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis in endemic areas.