β3-Adrenoceptor activation attenuates atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE(-/-) mice through lowering blood lipids and glucose.

Aim: To examine the effects of β3-adrenoceptor (β3-AR) activation on atherosclerotic plaque development in ApoE(-/-) mice.

Methods: Thirty six week-old male ApoE(-/-) mice on a high-fat diet were treated with atorvastatin (10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), po), BRL37344 (β3-AR agonist, 1.65 or 3.

[Upper airway changes in obstructive sleep apnea suffers after H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty combined with transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty].

Objective: To compare the different postoperative changes of the pharynx in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients treated with H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (H-UPPP) combined with transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty (PA) surgery or H-UPPP alone.

Methods: The upper airway in 43 patients with OSAHS were scanned during the end of normal respiration before and after treatment. There were 17 patients undergoing H-UPPP alone, 26 patients undergoing H-UPPP combined with PA, with PSG before and after treatment.

Treatment of aortic root aneurysm and mitral valve pathology through a single aortotomy.

Background: Aortic root aneurysms combined with lesions of the mitral valve requires synchronous operations. The conventional approach is to treat the two lesions through separate aortic and atrial incisions.

Methods: From May 2009 to August 2012, 28 transaortic mitral valve operations were performed.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. The Beijing Eye Study 2011.

Purpose: To measure retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in a population-based setting.

Methods: In the population-based Beijing Eye Study 2011 with 3468 individuals, RNFL thickness was measured in a subgroup of 1654 (47.7%) study participants by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (iVue SD-OCT).

ppENK Gene Methylation Status in the Development of Pancreatic Carcinoma.

Objective. To explore the association of hypermethylation of the proenkephalin gene (ppENK) with pancreatic carcinoma and to identify the effects of a demethylating agent on pancreatic cell lines. Method.

Surgical treatment of hypothalamic hamartoma causing central precocious puberty: long-term follow-up.

Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is a rare condition that often manifests as central precocious puberty (CPP). There is a lack of information available concerning the long-term effectiveness of surgery for the treatment of CPP due to HH. Here the authors describe 3 cases of CPP due to HH, with a follow-up ranging from 9 to 11 years after surgery.

[Quality of life after adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea in children].

Objective: To study changes in quality of life in children after adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) documented by full night polysomnography.

Method: Children with OSA who fit the standard have been selected. They were asked to complete the OSA 18 quality of life survey before adenotonsillectomy and between 6 and 18 months after surgery.

Pseudoexfoliation: normative data and associations: the Beijing eye study 2011.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) and its associations in a population-based setting.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional cohort study.

Participants: Of 4403 eligible subjects with an age of ≥ 50 years, 3468 individuals (78.

Dual source CT angiography in popliteal artery entrapment syndrome.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical value of dual source computed tomography (DSCT) angiography in the diagnosis and treatment for popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES).

Materials And Methods: 8 patients with PAES were retrospectively reviewed. 64-slice dual source CT angiography was performed based on the following protocol: 100 mL of Iopamidol (370 mgI/mL) was injected at a rate of 3.

Vertebral arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) in neurofibromatosis type 1: a report of two cases.

Spontaneous vertebral arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) associated with neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1) is a rare occurrence in the previous reports. We presented two female NF-1 patients with a diagnosis of cervical vertebral AVF treated with endovascular approach. The fistula in the first case was successfully obliterated by feeder occlusion; whereas, for the second one, new fistulae were formed following the primary fistula closure.

Surgical management of vertebral and basilar artery aneurysms: a single center experience in 41 patients.

Objective: To study an effective method for surgical management of vertebral and basilar artery aneurysms.

Methods: Forty-one patients with 43 aneurysms of the vertebral and basilar arteries were managed by microsurgical clipping. Cerebral angiography revealed basilar apex aneurysms in 17 patients, basilar trunk in six patients, vertebrobasilar (VB) junction aneurysms in three patients and vertebral aneurysms in 15 patients.

Localized retinal nerve fiber layer defects and arterial hypertension.

Background: We examined the relationship between arterial hypertension, localized retinal nerve fiber layer defects (RNFLDs), and retinal vascular abnormalities.

Methods: The study included 359 patients with arterial hypertension and 331 individuals without hypertension as control subjects. Localized RNFLDs and retinal vascular abnormalities were assessed on fundus photographs.

[Primitive neuroectodermal tumor/Ewing's sarcoma of the penis in children: a case report and review of the literature].

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations, pathological characteristics and treatment of primitive neuroectodermal tumor/Ewing's sarcoma (PNET/EWS) of the penis in children.

Methods: We analyzed the clinical data of a case of PNET/EWS and reviewed relevant literature.

Results: The patient was a 5-year-old boy, admitted for penis swelling with pain for 11 months.

The diagnosis of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Study Design: Retrospective consecutive case series.

Objective: To review and analyze clinical presentations and radiological imaging of 326 consecutive patients with spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) from 2 institutions.

Summary Of Background Data: The clinical presentations of SDAVF are nonspecific.

Subtemporal transtentorial petrosalapex approach for giant petroclival meningiomas: analyzation and evaluation of the clinical application.

With the advent of microsurgery and surgical techniques, along with the improvement in neuroimaging techniques and the microanatomy in cadaver study, improvement in terms of surgical morbidity and mortality has been remarkable; however, controversy still exists regarding the optimal surgical strategies for giant petroclival meningiomas (GPMs). We report a study of clinical and radiological features as well as the surgical findings and outcomes for patients with GPM treated at our institution over the past 6 years. During a 6-year period (April 2004 to March 2010), 16 patients with GPM underwent surgery by subtemporal transtentorial petrosal apex approach during which electrophysiological monitoring of cranial nerves and brainstem function were reviewed.

Optic nerve head morphology in young patients after antiglaucomatous filtering surgery.

Purpose: To compare the optic nerve head appearance in glaucomatous eyes before and after marked reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods: The hospital-based observational case-series study included selected glaucoma patients for whom optic disc photographs taken before and 1 week to 5 months after surgical reduction of IOP were morphometrically examined.

Results: The study included 23 eyes of 16 patients (mean age: 28.

The 10-year incidence and risk factors of retinal vein occlusion: the Beijing eye study.

Objective: To assess the 10-year incidence of retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) and associated factors in adult Chinese subjects.

Design: Population-based, longitudinal study.

Participants: The Beijing Eye Study, which included 4439 subjects (age: 40+ years) in 2001, was repeated in 2011 with 2695 subjects participating (66.

Nuclear translocation of alpha-synuclein increases susceptibility of MES23.5 cells to oxidative stress.

α-Synuclein (α-syn) and oxidative stress play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the mechanisms underlying the interaction between α-syn and oxidative stress remain poorly understood. The present study provides evidence to suggest that the nuclear translocation of α-syn increases death of dopaminergic neurons in response to oxidative stress.

Comparison of clinical features and outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction younger than 35 years with those older than 65 years.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients younger than 35 years with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: A total of 117 patients younger than 35 years with AMI admitted to the hospital during the recent 10 years were chosen, and 355 patients older than 65 years with AMI served as a control group. The case history, clinical data, coronary angiography and prognosis of the patients were analyzed and compared.

Treatment options to terminate persistent cesarean scar pregnancy.

Aims: Persistent Cesarean scar pregnancy (PCSP) is a rare and special type of Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) which is resistant to conservative treatment. The treatment option is challenging. We report a case series to provide indications for further treatment.

Molecular, ethno-spatial epidemiology of leprosy in China: novel insights for tracing leprosy in endemic and non endemic provinces.

Leprosy continues to be detected at near stable rates in China even with established control programs, necessitating new knowledge and alternative methods to interrupt transmission. A molecular epidemiology investigation of 190 patients was undertaken to define Mycobacterium leprae strain types and discern genetic relationships and clusters in endemic and non-endemic regions spanning seventeen provinces and two autonomous regions. The findings support multiple locus variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis as a useful tool in uncovering characteristic patterns across the multiethnic and divergent geographic landscape of China.

Ten years of experience with microsurgical treatment of large and giant petroclival meningiomas.

During a 10-year period, 41 patients underwent surgery for resection of large or giant petroclival meningiomas. Gross total resection (GTR) was accomplished in 25 patients (61.0%), subtotal resection (STR) in 15 patients (36.

Early imaging characteristics of 62 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the early imaging characteristics of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). A retrospective analysis was conducted of the clinical and imaging data of 62 patients with CVST diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). In the 62 cases, MRI (1.

[Canal-wall-down mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty surgery preserving chorda tympani nerve integrality].

Objective: To report the way for searching the chorda tympani nerve and the significance for preserving the chorda tympani nerve during canal-wall-down mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty surgery.

Method: Sixty-six cases with chronic suppurative otitis media underwent canal-wall-down mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty surgery. According to the marker of the short crus of incus, the posterior wall of auditory canal was lowered and crista of the chorda tympani nerve was found through tracing the facial nerve contour.

Long-term follow-up studies of Gamma Knife surgery with a low margin dose for vestibular schwannoma.

Object: The aim of this study was to assess long-term clinical outcomes in patients who underwent Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) with a low margin dose-14 Gy or less-to treat vestibular schwannoma (VS) unrelated to neurofibromatosis Type II.

Methods: Between December 1994 and December 2001, 200 patients with VSs underwent GKS, which was performed using the Leksell Gamma Knife model B. More than 10 years of follow-up is available in these patients.