Thoracic Injuries in earthquake-related versus non-earthquake-related trauma patients: differentiation via Multi-detector Computed Tomography

PURPOSE: Massive earthquakes are harmful to humankind. This study of a historical cohort aimed to investigate the difference between earthquake-related crush thoracic traumas and thoracic traumas unrelated to earthquakes using a multi-detector Computed Tomography (CT). METHODS: We retrospectively compared an earthquake-exposed cohort of 215 thoracic trauma crush victims of the Sichuan earthquake to a cohort of 215 non-earthquake-related thoracic trauma patients, focusing on the lesions and coexisting injuries to the thoracic cage and the pulmonary parenchyma and pleura using a multi-detector CT. RESULTS: The incidence of rib fracture was elevated in the earthquake-exposed cohort (143 vs. 66 patients in the non-earthquake-exposed cohort, Risk Ratio (RR) = 2.2; p<0.001). Among these patients, those with more than 3 fractured ribs (106/143 vs. 41/66 patients, RR=1.2; p<0.05) or flail chest (45/143 vs. 11/66 patients, RR=1.9; p<0.05) were more frequently seen in the earthquake cohort. Earthquake-related crush injuries more frequently resulted in bilateral rib fractures (66/143 vs. 18/66 patients, RR= 1.7; p<0.01). Additionally, the incidence of non-rib fracture was higher in the earthquake cohort (85 vs. 60 patients, RR= 1.4; p<0.01). Pulmonary parenchymal and pleural injuries were more frequently seen in earthquake-related crush injuries (117 vs. 80 patients, RR=1.5 for parenchymal and 146 vs. 74 patients, RR = 2.0 for pleural injuries; p<0.001). Non-rib fractures, pulmonary parenchymal and pleural injuries had significant positive correlation with rib fractures in these two cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic crush traumas resulting from the earthquake were life threatening with a high incidence of bony thoracic fractures. The ribs were frequently involved in bilateral and severe types of fractures, which were accompanied by non-rib fractures, pulmonary parenchymal and pleural injuries

Characteristics of coronary artery disease in symptomatic type 2 diabetic patients: evaluation with CT angiography

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common and severe complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study is to identify the features of CAD in diabetic patients using coronary CT angiography (CTA).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From 1 July 2009 to 20 March 2010, 113 consecutive patients (70 men, 43 women; mean age, 68 ± 10 years) with type 2 DM were found to have coronary plaques on coronary CTA. Their CTA data were reviewed, and extent, distribution and types of plaques and luminal narrowing were evaluated and compared between different sexes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 287 coronary vessels (2.5 ± 1.1 per patient) and 470 segments (4.2 ± 2.8 per patient) were found to have plaques, respectively. Multi-vessel disease was more common than single vessel disease (<it>p </it>< 0.001), and the left anterior descending (LAD) artery (35.8%) and its proximal segment (19.1%) were most frequently involved (all <it>p </it>< 0.001). Calcified plaques (48.8%) were the most common type (<it>p </it>< 0.001) followed by mixed plaques (38.1%). Regarding the different degrees of stenosis, mild narrowing (36.9%) was most common (<it>p </it>< 0.001); however, a significant difference was not observed between non-obstructive and obstructive stenosis (50.4% vs. 49.6%, <it>p </it>= 0.855). Extent of CAD, types of plaques and luminal narrowing were not significantly different between male and female diabetic patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Coronary CTA depicted a high plaque burden in patients with type 2 DM. Plaques, which were mainly calcified, were more frequently detected in the proximal segment of the LAD artery, and increased attention should be paid to the significant prevalence of obstructive stenosis. In addition, DM reduced the sex differential in CT findings of CAD.</p

Effect of orthokeratology lenses on teenagers' and children's myopia and its effect on corneal morphology and diopter

AIM: To study the effect of orthokeratology lens on myopia patients and their corneal morphology and diopter. METHODS: Totally 150 cases of myopia children admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to January 2017 were selected and divided into the orthokeratology lens group and the spectacles group according to the wishes of the patients and their families. Visual acuity of all patients was examined before and 1a after treatment. corneal curvature, corneal thickness and diopter were recorded and the complications during treatment was observed as well. RESULTS: The uncorrected visual acuity of orthokeratology lens group was significantly better than that of spectacles group(PPP>0.05). There was no significant difference in diopter between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05); the diopter of orthokeratology lens group was significantly lower than that of spectacles group(PPCONCLUSION: The treatment of myopia with orthokeratology lens has a significant effect, but there are many complications in the patients. Therefore, in the clinical application process, specific precautions should be taken against the factors that may cause complications, so as to make the treatment process safer

Carotid and cerebrovascular disease in symptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes: assessment of prevalence and plaque morphology by dual-source computed tomography angiography

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plaque morphology directly correlates with risk of embolism and the recently developed dual-source computed tomography angiography (DSCTA) may help to detect plaques more precisely. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and morphology of carotid and cerebrovascular atherosclerotic plaques in patients with symptomatic type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) by DSCTA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From July 2009 to August 2010, DSCTA was prospectively performed in 125 consecutive patients with symptomatic type 2 DM. We retrospectively analyzed plaque type, distribution, and extensive and obstructive natures were determined for each segment for all patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Atherosclerotic plaques were detected in 114 (91.2%) patients. Relatively more noncalcified (45%) and calcified (39%) plaques and less mixed (16%) plaques were observed (p < 0.001). Noncalcified plaques were found mainly in the intracranial arteries (81.8%), mixed plaques in the intracranial arteries (25.2%) and intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) (56.1%). Calcified plaques were found mainly in the intracranial ICA (65.9%) and extracranial arteries (28.2%) (for all, p < 0.001). Extension of plaques from the 1^stto 5^thsegments was observed in 67 (58.8%) patients and from the 6^thto 10^thsegments in 35 (30.7%) patients. The most common site of all detected plaques was the cavernous segment. Regarding stenosis, there were significantly more nonobstructive than obstructive stenosis (91% vs. 9%, p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>DSCTA detected a high prevalence of plaques in patients with symptomatic type 2 DM. A relatively high proportion of plaques were noncalcified, as well as with nonobstructive stenosis. The distribution of plaques was extensive, with the cavernous portion of ICA being the most common site.</p

1,1′-Dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium bis­(tetra­fluorido­borate)

In the title compound, C12H14N2 2+·2BF4 −, the cation has a centre of symmetry at the mid-point of the central C—C bond. π–π inter­actions, with a shortest atom-to-atom distance of 3.757 (4) Å, extend the crystal structure into a one-dimensional supra­molecular chain

1,1′-Dimethyl-4,4′-(propane-1,3-di­yl)dipyridinium tetra­bromidocadmate(II)

In the cation of the title compound, (C15H20N2)[CdBr4], the dihedral angle between the two pyridine rings is 70.85 (5)°. An inter­molecular π–π inter­action between the pyridine rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.900 (4) Å] is observed. The CdII atom has a distorted tetra­hedral coordination