Exploring the use of biphasic quantitative thoracic computed tomography to evaluate halo-pelvic traction in managing severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Patients diagnosed with severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often experience reduced pulmonary function and lung volume due to deformities in the spine and ribcage. Presurgical halo-pelvic traction (HPT) has been used to treat severe scoliosis before second-stage surgery. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of studies utilizing computed tomography (CT) scans to evaluate changes in lung volume post-HPT.

Decreases in lung volume and lung height among ankylosing spondylitis patients with pulmonary function impairment: a 3D CT investigation.

Background: Respiratory compromise among ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients is characterized by restrictive pulmonary function, leading to the need for a meticulous assessment of lung volume. Compared with conventional pulmonary function tests (PFTs), CT-based lung volume measurements have superior accuracy and are crucial for understanding functional limitations in AS. This study investigated the correlation between CT lung volume and PFT parameters in AS patients, with a focus on changes in CT parameters and lung volume in patients with compromised pulmonary function.

Normal Values for Atrial Deformation Measured by Feature-Tracking Cardiac MRI: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: A consensus on normal atrial deformation measurements by feature-tracking cardiac MRI remained absent.

Purpose: Provide reference ranges for atrial strain parameters in normal subjects, evaluating the influence of field strength and analysis software on the measurements.

Study Type: Meta-analysis.

Quantitative computed tomography assessment of bone mineral density in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: correlations with Cobb angle, vertebral rotation, and Risser sign.

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a prevalent spinal disorder that can potentially influence bone mineral density (BMD), thereby increasing the susceptibility to osteoporosis and fractures. Early identification of reduced bone mass in AIS patients is crucial for clinicians to develop effective preventive strategies against fractures. This study aims to elucidate the correlation between BMD, as measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and various clinical parameters in AIS, including the Cobb angle, vertebral rotation, and the Risser sign.

Lung volume determination by dual-source computed tomography in infants with pulmonary artery sling: a case-control study.

Background: Pulmonary artery sling (PAS) is associated with tracheal stenosis and left pulmonary artery (LPA) dysplasia in infants, both developmental abnormalities that may lead to pulmonary hypoplasia and lung volume changes. As such, we aimed to monitor the effects of tracheal stenosis and pulmonary vascular malformation on lung volumes in infants with PAS and their correlation with lung volumes in infants with PAS using dual-source computed tomography (DSCT).

Methods: A case-control study was performed.

Subventricular zone predicts high velocity of tumor expansion and poor clinical outcome in patients with low grade astrocytoma.

Objective: The aim of this study is to clarify the association between subventricular zone (SVZ) involvement and velocity of diametric expansion(VDE) in patients with low-grade astrocytoma and also assessed the clinical outcome of those patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 168 adult patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial low-grade astrocytoma were studied retrospectively.

Results: There were 73 patients had SVZ involvement.

Overexpression of AtFRO6 in transgenic tobacco enhances ferric chelate reductase activity in leaves and increases tolerance to iron-deficiency chlorosis.

The Arabidopsis gene FRO6(AtFRO6) encodes ferric chelate reductase and highly expressed in green tissues of plants. We have expressed the gene AtFRO6 under the control of a 35S promoter in transgenic tobacco plants. High-level expression of AtFRO6 in transgenic plants was confirmed by northern blot analysis.