Sono-anatomy of the middle cervical sympathetic ganglion verified with pathology.

Objectives: Cervical discomfort and other symptoms may be attributable to the middle cervical sympathetic ganglion. The aim of this study was to explore the sonographic features of this ganglion in anatomical specimens and cadavers and evaluate the feasibility of its visualization using high-resolution ultrasonography. Methods: We examined three cervical sympathetic-ganglion specimens and two fresh cadavers using high-resolution ultrasound to explore the sonographic features of this ganglion. Basic imaging characteristics examined included the shape, echo intensity, and location of the ganglion. Core-needle biopsy was performed to examine the suspected middle cervical sympathetic ganglion in the two fresh cadavers and verify the accuracy of the sonographic identification via pathological examination. Results: The middle cervical sympathetic ganglion appeared on high-resolution ultrasonography as an oval-shaped hypoechoic structure, with at least one continuous hypoechoic line connected to each ending in the anatomical specimens and fresh cadavers, and it was distinctly different from the adjacent lymph nodes. Discussion: Based on an adequate understanding of both its location and sonographic features, the direct visualization of the middle cervical sympathetic ganglion using high-resolution ultrasonography is feasible.

Childhood BMI and Adult Obesity in a Chinese Sample: A 13-Year Follow-up Study.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is recognized as a significant risk factor for diabetes and hypertension. The present study aimed to examine the associations between adults'obesity risk and childhood and parental obesity. METHODS: A total of 204 children aged 6-17 years were recruited in 2002 with an average follow-up period of 13.2 years. Height and body weight were measured by trained staffs. Overweight and obesity were defined based on the Chinese standard for children and adults. T-test, analysis of variance, and Chi-square analysis were used for single factor analysis. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to perform multifactor analysis. RESULTS: The percentage of non-obese children who grew up to be non-obese adults was 62.6%, and that of obese children who grew up to be obese adults was 80.0%. There was a significant association between childhood body mass index (BMI) and adulthood BMI with a ß regression coefficient of 3.76 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36-6.16], and between childhood obesity and adulthood obesity with an odds ratio of 5.76 (95% CI: 1.37-24.34). There was no statistical difference between parental obesity at baseline and children's adulthood obesity, after adjustment of confounders. Male participants and those aged 10.0-13.0 years had a higher risk of adulthood obesity with odds ratios of 2.50 (95% CI: 1.12-5.26) and 3.62 (95% CI: 1.17-11.24), respectively. CONCLUSION: Childhood obesity is an important predictor of adulthood obesity.

[Effect of Guanfu Base A in patients with ventricular arrhythmias].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and safety of intravenous Guanfu Base A hydrochloride (GFA) in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. METHODS: Patients without severe structural heart disease presenting with equal or more than 150 premature ventricular contractions per hour and/or non sustained ventricular tachycardia in drug-free holter monitoring were recruited in this double blind randomized active-controlled study. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive GFA or propafenone intravenously by a proportion of 1:1 in a double-blind manner. Intravenous bolus of the study medicine was given, followed by maintenance infusion for 6 hours. 24 hours continuous electrocardiographic recordings were performed to evaluate the efficacy. Vital signs, electrocardiograms and adverse events were documented before, during and after drug administration. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients came from eight centres were randomized to GFA or propafenone group. The demographic characteristics, the extent of ventricular arrhythmias and baseline clinical findings were comparable between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the percentage of reducing premature ventricular contractions and the accumulated efficacy between two groups. GFA had tendency to be more effective than propafenone in reducing the number of ventricular ectopy (P = 0.0609). There were no significant differences in the onset of action after drug administration between two drugs. The tolerance of GFA was better than propafenone. The adverse events in GFA group were less severe than those in propafenone group. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous GFA in controlling the premature ventricular contraction has comparable effect to IV propafenone. Tolerance of GFA was better than propafenone.