450 nm semiconductor blue laser vaporization combined with triamcinolone acetonide injection in the treatment of bladder neck contracture: a case report / 现代泌尿外科杂志

【Objective】 To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 450 nm semiconductor blue laser combined with triamcinolone acetonide injection in the treatment of bladder neck contracture (BNC). 【Methods】 A 61-year-old male patient with BNC and urethral stricture was treated with 450 nm semiconductor blue laser vaporization combined with triamcinolone acetonide injection. The surgery was performed with a small-caliber laser resectoscope of F22. The follow-up results 3 months after surgery were reported. 【Results】 The operation was successful, the operation time was 30 minutes, and the patient was discharged the next day after operation. Follow-up 3 months after operation showed the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was 22.1 mL/s, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was 2, the Quality of Life Scale (QoL) was 0, and no recurrence was observed. 【Conclusion】 It is safe and feasible to use 450 nm semiconductor blue laser combined with triamcinolone acetonide injection to treat bladder neck contracture through a small-caliber laser resectoscope of F22, especially for patients with urethral stricture. The short-term efficacy is satisfactory.

Practice of cost data caliber governance at multi-campus public hospitals / 中华医院管理杂志

Cost data caliber governance is key to fine cost management. To tackle the troubles in cost data management at multiple campuses of one hospital, the authors built a multi-campus cost data caliber governance mode. By means of enhanced top-level design, the mode carried out data governance by such measures as the establishment of data dictionary mapping library, standardizing department names and caliber, classification of charging items of medical services, precisely matching between fixed assets and charging items, interconnecting the management system of charging library and the procurement library of consumables, as well as precisely matching surgical disease types and charging items. These measures accomplished the consistency and comparability of cost data across campuses, building an automated, streamlined, standardized and integrated data governance mode for reference of hospitals with multiple campuses in need of cost management.

Correlation study of retinal vascular morphological parameters with ischemic stroke / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective:To observe the morphological characteristics of retinal vessels in patients with ischemic stroke, and to preliminary analyze the correlation between retinal vascular morphological parameters and ischemic stroke.Methods:A retrospective study. From May 2015 to May 2017, 73 patients with ischemic stroke (ischemic stroke group) confirmed by examination at the Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were included in this study. In addition, 146 patients were included in the control group. A total of 146 patients with acute stroke who were excluded by head CT and/or magnetic resonance imaging were selected as the control group. Fundus images of patients were collected by nonmydriatic fundus camera. Retinal vascular parameters were measured by artificial intelligence fundus image analysis system, included retinal artery and vein caliber as well as vascular curvature, branching angle, fractal dimension, and density. The morphological characteristics of retinal vessels were compared between the control and ischemic stroke groups, and correlation between the retinal vascular parameters and ischemic stroke was analyzed using binary logistic regression.Results:Compared with the control group, the ischemic stroke group had thinner retinal artery caliber, smaller retinal vascular fractal dimension, and lower retinal vascular density; moreover, these differences were statistically significant ( t=3.232, 3.502, 3.280; P<0.05). Vascular fractal dimension [odds ratio ( OR)=0.291, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.160-0.528] and retinal artery caliber ( OR=0.924, 95% CI 0.870-0.981) were strongly correlated with ischemic stroke ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Compared with the control group, the retinal artery caliber, fractal dimension and retinal vascular density in ischemic stroke group are smaller; decreased retinal artery caliber and fractal dimension are correlated with ischemic stroke.

Research Status of Endothelialization of Poly （ε-caprolactone） Small-Caliber Vascular Graft Implanted in Animals / 医用生物力学

The most serious problem facing the implantation of vascular graft in the body is the formation of blood clots. In order to solve this problem, various attempts have been made by the scientific community for many years. However, endothelialization is the fundamental method to solve thrombosis and keep vascular graft open for a long time. Poly （ε-caprolactone） (PCL) has the advantages of biodegradability, low cost and good mechanical properties. In recent years, it has been widely used as tissue engineering scaffolds, drug deliverys and so on. This article mainly reviews the endothelialization of small-caliber vascular graft based on PCL after implanted in different animal models, as well as the endothelialization of the same animal model but under different implantation conditions, and trying to find the reasons why small-caliber vascular grafts are still not ideal in clinical applications at different angles such as the different animal models and the different way about endothelialization, and provide references for future animal model selection.

Small-caliber tissue-engineered vascular stent: How to produce a material with physiological remodeling activity / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The common clinical treatment methods of cardiovascular disease are vascular reconstruction, including stent interventional therapy, coronary artery bypass grafting and angioplasty. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the latest research progress of tissue-engineered vascular stent materials, such as natural derivative stent materials, synthetic macromolecule materials and composite materials, so as to lay a theoretical foundation for small-caliber vascular transplantation. METHODS: PubMed, WanFang, and CNI databases were retrieved for the articles published from January 2008 to July 2019. The key words were “tissue engineering, biological material, scaffold material, blood vessel” in Chinese and English, respectively. The documents with old content and repeated conclusions were excluded, and 52 eligible articles were enrolled. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Autologous vascular grafts, such as saphenous vein and internal thoracic artery, are the best alternatives to small-caliber vessels. However, restenosis of vascular lumen may be induced after transplantation, and the incidence of thrombosis, infection and transplantation failure increases, which seriously hinders the clinical application. Considering these limitations, researchers have embedded tissue-engineered vascular grafts into cells to produce a living material with physiological remodeling activity. This potential solution may bring hope for the future of vascular grafts.

Estudio de las variantes anatómicas en el conducto incisivo en pacientes desdentados utilizando la tomografía de haz cónico / Study of the anatomical variants in the incisive canal in edentulous patients using cone beam tomography

Introducción: La región anterior de la mandíbula, ubicada entre los agujeros mentonianos contiene conductos intraóseos con elementos vasculares y ramas nerviosas terminales provenientes del nervio alveolar inferior. El objetivo del trabajo es determinar las variantes anatómicas producidas en el conducto incisivo y las corticales superior, inferior, externa e interna en pacientes edéntulos con respecto a pacientes dentados en tomografía computarizada de haz cónico. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio comparativo, retrospectivo y observacional. Se estudiaron 50 tomografías en pacientes edéntulos y 50 en pacientes dentados de ambos sexos desde los 38 hasta los 81 años. En cada corte se realizó una medición en lo alto y ancho del conducto. También se determinó la posición del conducto incisivo mediante la realización de cuatro mediciones. Resultados: Se observaron diferencias significativas en lo que respecta al alto y ancho del conducto incisivo y también entre las distancias hacia la cortical vestibular, lingual, alveolar y basal entre pacientes dentados y desdentados. Conclusión: Se pudo comprobar una mayor resorción ósea en los pacientes desdentados, hallado entre el conducto incisivo y las corticales superior y vestibular y un menor calibre del conducto incisivo con respecto a los pacientes dentados (AU)

Introduction: The previous region of the mandible, located between the mental foramen, contains intraosseous ducts with vascular elements and terminal nervous branches from the inferior alveolar nerve. The objective of the work is to determine the anatomical variants produced in the incisive canal and the superior, inferior, external and internal cortices in edentulous patients with respect to dentate patients in cone beam computed tomography. Material and methods: A retrospective observation al comparative study was carried out. Fifty tomographies were studied in edentulous patients and 50 in dentate patients of both sex es from 38 to 81 years. In each cut a measure men twasmade in height and width of the conduit. The position of the incisive cannel was also determined by performing four measurements. Results: Significant differences were observed regarding the height and width of the incisal canal and also between the distances to the vestibular, lingual, alveolar and basal cortical area between dentate and edentulous patients. Conclusion: A greater bone reabsorption in thee dentulous patients found between the incisive canal and the superior and vestibular cortices and a smaller caliber of the incisive canal with respect to the dentate patient should be verified (AU)

Blue Laser Imaging with a Small-Caliber Endoscope Facilitates Detection of Early Gastric Cancer

Conventional endoscopy often misses early gastric cancers with minimal red discoloration because they cannot be distinguished from inflamed mucosa. We treated a patient with a small early gastric cancer that was difficult to diagnose using conventional endoscopy. Conventional endoscopy using a small-caliber endoscope showed only subtle red discoloration of the gastric mucosa. However, blue laser imaging showed a clearly discolored area measuring 10 mm in diameter around the red lesion, which was distinct from the surrounding inflamed mucosa. Irregular vessels on the tumor surface (suspicious for early gastric cancer) were observed even with small-caliber endoscopy. Biopsy revealed a well-moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed. Histopathological examination of the specimen confirmed well-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma localized to the mucosa with slight depression compared to the surrounding mucosa, consistent with the endoscopic findings. This small early gastric cancer became clearly visible with blue laser imaging using small-caliber endoscopy.

Repeatability and reproducibility of IVAN software measuring retinal vascular caliber / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Retinal vascular caliber changes can reflect the development status of cardiovascular disease and diabetes-associated vascular diseases,so it is very important to quantitatively measure retinal vascular caliber in the study of systemic diseases and retinal vascular disease.However,the methodology study is rately seen in China within our knowledge.Objective The present study was to investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of IVAN software in measuring retinal vascular caliber.Methods This study was approved by Ethic Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University,and written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to medical examination.A prospectively diagnostic trail was performed.The digitized fundus color photograph centered on the disc from 192 eyes of 96 healthy volunteers were collected in Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from January,2013 to December,2014,and central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE),central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) were analyzed by IVAN measurement software.The repeatability and reproducibility of IVAN software for random repeat measurement of retinal vessel caliber from consecutive 85 right eyes of 85 volunteers were evaluation by interobserver and intraobserver measurement with interclass correlation coefficient (ICC).The correlations of measuring results between two observers or two-time measuring were analyzed with Pearson linear correlation analysis.Bland-Altman agreeement analysis was employed to assess the agreeement of the outcomes.Results No significant differences were found in CRAE,CRVE and AVR between the right eyes and the left eyes (t=-1.009,1.090,-1.259,all at P＞0.05).The CRAE,CRVE and AVR values from observer 1 were (145.02±12.94) μm,(400.72±9.12) μm and 0.36±0.03,and those from observer 2 were (145.10 ± 11.86) μm,(401.17 ± 9.85) μm and 0.36 ± 0..03,with no significant differences between observer 1 and observer 2 (t =-0.074,-0.913,0.116,all at P＞0.05).The repeat CRAE,CRVE and AVR values from observer 1 were (145.02 ± 12.94) μm,(400.72 ±9.12) μm and 0.36 ±0.03,which were significantly different from the initial values (t =-0.777,-0.048,-0.745,all at P＞0.05).In two-time measurements of intraobserver,all ICC were ≥0.738 and showed good correlations (all at r≥0.739).The two measurements of interobserver,showed good correlations (r≥ 0.662),with all ICC ≥ 0.657.Bland-Altman plots showed good agreements in CRAE and CRVE measurement with 95％ limits of agreement(LoA) ranged from-18.5 μm to 17.3 μm and-9.8 μm to 9.6 μm in intraobserver,and from-19.3 μm to 20.0 μm and-10.2 μm to 9.0 μm in interobserver,respectively.Conclusions IVAN measurement software yields good repeatability and reproducibility in the quantitative measurement of retinal vascular caliber.

Dieulafoy disease in a child:a case report and literature review / 临床儿科杂志

Objectives To explore the clinical diagnosis and treatment of Dieulafoy disease in children. Method The clinical features, endoscopic features and treatment of Dieulafoy disease in a child were reviewed. Results The 2-year-5-month old girl was admitted due to hematemesis for 7 hours. She was diagnosed of Dieulafoy disease by the typical endoscopic appearance. Gastroscopy showed that the lesion was located in gastric angle which was the predilection position of Dieulafoy disease. The small red blood vessels in the central part of the erosion area was exposed on the mucosal surface. The high frequency electrocoagulation under gastroscope was performed and effect was definite. Conclusion Dieulafoy disease is rare in children and lacks obvious clinical features. Endoscopic treatment has definite effect with little trauma and is the first choice of treatment.

Retinal Vascular Caliber Changes in Diabetic Retinopathy after Panretinal Photocoagulation and Additive Bevacizumab Injections

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of panretinal photocoagulation and additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections on central retinal vessel diameters and characteristic retinal vascular caliber changes in diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Changes in central retinal vessel diameters were retrospectively analyzed before and 6 months after panretinal photocoagulation with or without additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections in 64 eyes first diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. Vessel diameters and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) were measured using Interactive Vessel Analysis (IVAN) software and the Big six formula. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) in both groups, with and without additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections, 6 months after completion of panretinal photocoagulation (p < 0.001, p = 0.008), but no significant change in AVR (p = 0.338). Additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections did not produce significant changes in central retinal vessel diameters after 6 months compared to vessel diameters treated with panretinal photocoagulation only. Retinal vascular caliber of progressed diabetic retinopathy showed smaller CRAE, larger CRVE, and smaller AVR compared to those of normal or diabetic Korean subjects in a previous study and showed no significant association with age. CONCLUSIONS: CRAE and CRVE decreased significantly 6 months after panretinal photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy, but additive intravitreal bevacizumab injections did not cause significant additive changes to central retinal vascular calibers in this study. We established the standard retinal vascular caliber of Korean subjects in diabetic retinopathy and analyzed the effects of retinopathy on retinal vessel caliber.

Analysis of Retinal Vascular Calibers with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To analyze the association between retinal vascular caliber and cardiovascular risk factors including smoking, blood pressure, diabetes and age. METHODS: This study included 60 Korean male participants 40-69 years of age. The retinal vessel caliber was measured using computer-assisted fundus photography. Four vessels coursing through the area of one half disc diameter from the optic disc margin were measured. Additionally, we analyzed the association between the retinal vessel caliber and risk factors including smoking, diabetes, hypertension and age. RESULTS: Smoking was not significantly associated with retinal vessel calibers. The diabetes group showed larger average retinal vessel calibers than normal group, but veins were significantly wider (p < 0.05). The average retinal vessel caliber was wider and inferior vein and artery were significantly larger in the hypertension group (p < 0.05). Although the retinal vessel caliber increased with age, significance was observed only in the superior artery (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, retinal vessel caliber was easily measured using a semi-automatic computer program. This method should prove useful in further studies examining the correlation among retinal vessel caliber variations in many localized ophthalmologic disorder.

Analysis of Factors Associated with Retinal Vascular Caliber in Normal Korean Subjects

PURPOSE: To measure the diameter of the retinal arterial and venous caliber of normal Korean subjects and evaluate the factors affecting these diameters. METHODS: Fundus photography was performed on 152 normal Korean subjects. Central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) were measured with a computer-based program (IVAN), and were used to investigate the relationship between the diameter and factors including age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. RESULTS: Among the study subjects, the CRVE was 209.33 +/- 12.40 microm and the CRAE was 149.70 +/- 9.01 microm. The CRVE and CRAE decreased with increasing age in all study subjects (both p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study group, retinal vascular caliber of normal Korean subjects decreased with aging. Retinal vascular caliber was affected by gender and hypertension, but not by smoking and diabetes.

The relationship between retinal vascular calibers and components of the metabolic syndrome / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective With a computer-assisted program,retinal vascular calibers were measured quantitatively.In this study the relationship between retinal vascular calibers and components of the metabolic syndrome was examined.Methods A total of 450 hypertensive patients were collected.Medical history,physical examination,blood tests,and retinal photographs were taken.Retinal vascular calibers were measured quantitatively from digital retinal photographs.In the hypertensive population the associations of retinal vascular calibers with components of the metabolic syndrome were described,and the factors that influenced retinal vascular calibers were analyzed.Results In the enrolled population,mean age was (57.53 ± 10.01) years,mean systolic blood pressure (138 ± 17) mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa),diastolic blood pressure (84 ± 10) mm Hg.Mean central retinal arteriolar equivalent(CRAE) was(129.26 ± 12.68) μm,and mean central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) (198.25 ± 18.37) μm.After adjusting for age,gender,etc,CRAE in group with poor blood pressure control was smaller than that in the group with good blood pressure control [(126.45 ± 15.74) μm vs (130.30 ± 11.30) μm,P =0.029].CRAE tended to be narrower with worsened blood pressure control (P =0.075).CRVE was smaller in patients with normal high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) than in those with abnormal level [(197.36 ±17.62) μm vs (203.07 ± 21.52) μm,P =0.040].The diastolic blood pressure was raised along with the decreasing CRAE(P=0.009).And the HDL-C level was reduced as CRVE was increasing(P=0.042).Old age (r =-0.090,P=0.013) and poor blood pressure control(r=-0.098,P=0.038) were independent risk factors for narrow CRAE,while lowered HDL-C (r =0.105,P =0.024) and smoking (r =0.141,P =0.010) were independent risk factors for wide CRVE.Conclusions Narrow CRAE was related to poor blood pressure control,while wide CRVE was related to lowed HDL-C.Aging and poor blood pressure control were independent risk factors for narrow CRAE,while lowed HDL-C and smoking were independent risk factors for wide CRVE in the hypertensive patients.

Retinal Vascular Caliber Changes on OCT after Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection in Diabetic Macular Edema

PURPOSE: To investigate retinal vascular caliber changes with Spectral Domain OCT after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in diabetic macular edema patients. METHODS: Thirty-four eyes of 29 diabetic macular edema patients who were intravitreously injected with bevacizumab (1.25 g/0.05 ml) were studied. Twenty-four fellow eyes of 24 patients with bevacizumab injection were also recruited as a control group. We measured retinal vascular caliber a distance of 0.5-1 disc sizes from the disc margin with Spectral Domain OCT at baseline and 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits. Central macular thicknesses were also measured. RESULTS: Over the 3 months of study, there was a significant reduction of arteriolar caliber compared to baseline (p = 0.024), There was significant reduction of venular caliber at 1 month (p = 0.001) and 3 months (p = 0.000) compared to baseline. Venular caliber reduction at the 3-month follow-up was significantly correlated with central macular thickness (R = 0.487, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal venular caliber reduction was significant at 1- and 3-month follow-up, and arteriolar caliber reduction was significant at 3-month follow-up compared to baseline. After 3 months of treatment, venular caliber reduction was correlated with reduction of central macular thickness.

Pharmacologic bronchodilation response to salbutamol in COPD patients.

Background: Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is the most characteristic feature of asthma, which is reported in COPD patients and smokers. Increased airway responsiveness to ί-agonists is also demonstrated in asthmatics as well as smokers. However, there is no report regarding AHR to ί-agonist drugs in COPD patients. Therefore, in this study pharmacologic bronchodilation response to salbutamol in COPD patients was examined. Materials and Methods: The threshold concentrations of inhaled salbutamol required for a 20% change in forced expiratory flow in 1 sec (FEV 1 ) as PC 20 , or a 35% change in specific airway conductance (sGaw) as PC 35 was measured in 14 COPD patients and 14 normal subjects. Results: Airway responsiveness to salbutamol in COPD patients (PC 20 = 14.14 ± 1.62 and PC 35 = 9.70 ± 1.48 mg/l) was significantly lower than normal subjects (PC 20 = 224.57 ± 16.62 and PC 35 = 81.87 ± 8.16 mg/l, P < 0.001 for both cases). The values of FEV 1 and sGaw in COPD patients (56.43 ± 14.45 and 0.081 ± 0.120 respectively) were significantly lower than those of normal subjects (104.07 ± 5.72 and 0.194 ± 0.041 respectively), (P < 0.001 for FEV 1 and P < 0.005 for sGaw). There was a significant correlation between FEV 1 with PC 20 salbutamol (r = 0.862, P < 0.001). The correlations between PC 20 and PC 35 was also statistically significant (r = 0.862, P < 0.001). Conclusion: These results showed increased airway responsiveness of most COPD patients to salbutamol which was highly correlated to airway caliber.

Surgical treatment of anterior mitral valve prolapse using artificial chordal loop / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To summarize the clinical experience for treating anterior mitral leaflet prolapse with an artificial chordal loop. Methods From January 2008 to August 2009, pre-measured ePTFE loops were used to treat anterior leaflet prolapse in 8 patients, 5 males and 3 females, aged from 28 to 68 ( average 56.0 ± 8.9 ) years. The heart function (NYHA) was class Ⅱ in 2 patients and class Ⅲ in 6. Echocardiography showed chordal rupture in 7 patients, 2 with chordal rupture and elongation and pure chordal elongation in 1. There were 3 patients with A1 segment prolapse of anterior mitral leaflet, 2 with A2 segment prolapse, 3 with both A2 and A3 segments prolepses by Carpentier standardization. There were 2 patients with posterior leaflet chordal rupture in P2 and P3 segment, 1 with cor triatrium. Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was 53 - 62 mm [average ( 57.2±3.8 ) mm]. Ejection fraction (EF) was 0.60 - 0. 68 ( average 0.63 ± 0.02). Heart-thoracic ratio was 0. 52 ± 0. 17. We measured the normal chordal using both a caliber and by echocardiography ( for comparison after operation). The artificial chordal loops was constructed on the caliber using ePTFE suture, and then fixed the loop to the papillary muscle and the free edge of the anterior leaflet. Results There was no operation death. Hemolysis after 2 days of operation in 1 patient was amended by alkalinization, diuresis and hormone treatment. Pre-discharge transthoracic echocardiography showed mild regurgitation in 1patient, trivial regurgitation in 7. LVEDD were 42 -51mm [average (47. 1 ±2.2) mm] significantly decreased than that of pre-operation. Following parameters were measured and compared with pre-operation: EF 0. 58 ± 0. 03 vs. 0. 63 ± 0. 02, beart function ( NYHA ) class 1.25 ± 0. 42 vs. 2.75 ± 0. 58. Normal chordal length measured by caliber was ( 21.20 ± 1.55 ) mm vs. ( 22. 10 ± 2.68 ) mm by echocardiography. Anticoagulate therapy with warfarin was for 3 months after discharge and followed-up all the patients [1 - 19 months, average (8.2 ± 4.3 ) months]. Post operative echocardiography showed mild regurgitation in 1 patient, no or trivial regurgitation in 7 patients. The heart function class was evident improved compared with pre-operation :6 patients in class Ⅰ , 2 patients in class Ⅱ. Conclusion The pre-measured ePTFE loop is reliable and reproducible confirmed by short term follow-up for treating anterior leaflet prolapse.

Effects of heparin coating on intimal hyperplasia in implanted decellularized xenografts / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To investigate the effects of heparin coating on intimal hyperplasia in implanted decellularized xenografts.Methods The resected canie carotid arteries were decellularized,and heparin coating was partially performed.Eighteen rabbits were divided into non-heparin-coated group(n=9)and heparin-coated group(n=9).During implantation,only the left carotid between the anastomotic stoma was ligated.Doppler ultrasonography was performed 1,3 and 12 weeks post-implantation to measure the luminal diameter,and the hemodynamic parameters such as PSV,RI and PI were calculated.All animals were sacrificed,histological observations were conducted at 12 weeks post-implantation,and I/(I+ M)was calculated.Results Except for 1 week post-implantation in the ligated side,the luminal diameters in non-heparin -coated group were significantly smaller than that of pre-implantation.Besides,those of the non-ligated side at each time points were significantly smaller than the ligated side(P

Conventional EGD versus Small-caliber EGD : The Thinner, the Better? / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Small-caliber esophagogastroduodenoscopy (scEGD) was developed to facilitate unsedated EGD, and has many advantages over sedated EGD in terms of costs and complications. This study compared the feasibility and tolerance of scEGD with unsedated conventional EGD (cEGD), and examined the effect of the endoscopic diameter on the patients' tolerance. METHODS: A total of 114 patients who were referred for a diagnostic EGD was randomly allocated to undergo either scEGD (GIF XP260, Olympus, diameter 6.5 mm; n=57) or cEGD (GIF XQ240, Olympus, diameter 9.0 mm; n=57). After EGD, the patients and endoscopists completed questionnaires on the level of discomfort, satisfaction and acceptance of the examination. RESULTS: Patients in the scEGD group reported significantly less discomfort (choking, pain and nausea) and more overall satisfaction than those in the cEGD group. Patients in the scEGD group were more willing to choose the same procedure again if medically indicated. According to multivariate analysis, the ultrathin endoscopic diameter itself was positively associated with the increased patients' satisfaction (odds ratio 3.07, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: scEGD has comparable feasibility and accuracy but is more tolerable than cEGD. scEGD may have a role in clinical practice by minimizing the level of discomfort during unsedated EGD.

Clinical Usefulness of Ultrathin - caliber Pancreatoscopy on Diagnosis of Various Pancreatic Diaeases / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Although ERCP has been widely used to diagnose and occasionally treat chronic pancreatitis, it is not always easy to differentiate between malignancy and benign disease by ERCP alone. So peroral pancreatoscopy(PPS) using mother and baby type scopes was developed and several types of peroral pancreatoscopes with various diameters have been used at several institutes. To assess the clinical usefulness of ultrathin-caliber pancreatoscopy on diagnosis of various pancreatic diseases, we performed peroral pancreatoscopy with PF 8P (Olympus, external diameter: 0.8 mm) in 12 cases(6 cases of chronic pancreatitis, 5 cases of pancreatic tumor, and 1 case of mucinous ductal ectasia) of pancreatic diseases. The pancreatoscope was successfully inserted into main pancreatic duct in 11 cases and permitted satisfactory endoscopic observation. The endoscopic findings of chronic pancreatitis were smooth stenosis, protein plug, and stones in pancreatic duct. Peroral pancreatoscopic findings of pancreatic cancer were characteristically seen as stenosis with irregular mucosal protrusion. In the mucin-producing tumor cases, the lesions were generally not clearly visualized due to the presence of copious amount of mucin. We conclude that pancreatoscopy is a valuable alternative or supplementary procedure to diagnostic imaging method of arriving at a more definite diagnosis in difficult cases. But several limitations, such as poor visual field, absence of biopsy channel and controllable tip, and poor durability of endoscope will be overcomed to serve as essential diagnosic tool for pancratic diseases.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS OF THE ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE KNEE JOINT / 解剖学报

For the purpose of clinical application, this article presents a preliminary observation on the arterial supply of the knee joint in 57 fixed and fresh lower limbs, adopting topography, arterial cast, a rteriography and clearing of the specimens. There are more variations and common-stems of the articular branches on the right side. Each artery of the knee has its own characteristic morphology and special distribution. Whenever a local area has several sources of arterial supply, relationships between primary and secondary, superficial and deep arteries exist. According to their caliber, arteries of the knee may be divided into 3 groups. Besides the possibility for evaluating the degree of blood supply, variations in caliber are indications for estimating the size of neighboring arteries. Arterial blood supply of the whole knee area is comparatively even and symmetrical. The level of origin of all arteries supplying the Same area of the knee joint is constant, bearing a certain relation to one another. Besides, a brief discussion about the concept of "pure articular branch" and "musculoarticular branch", collateral arterial anastomosis, local "nonvascular area", relationship between prepatellar arterial network and the blood supply of patella is given.