inflammatory pseudotumor. Conclusions The number of pleural is closely relative to the shape size and position. The occurrence rate of pleural indentation is closely relative to the distance between SPN and pleural,and the nature of SPN has correlation with pulling pleural.

Objective To explore the efficacy of transpedicular fixation combined with mixed transpedicular structural and cancellous bone granule graft for the treatment of severe compressed or burst thoracolumbar spinal fractures.Methods From January 2001 to January 2008,18 cases of severe compressed or burst thoracolumbar spinal fractures was treated with transpedicular fixation of spondylolisthesis and fracture(SF) or atlas fixation(AF) combined with mixed transpedicular structural and cancellous bone granule graft in the compressed vertebral body.Results In this group,no injuries to the spinal cord or nerves occurred.The mean blood loss was 50-300 ml(average 80 ml).The mean operation time was 100-180 min(mean 120 min),and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 12 to 30 days(14 days on average).Follow-up was available in 18 cases for a mean of 24 months(5-72 months),all the patients achieved satisfying recovery of the height and physiological curve of the vertebral body: 17 of the cases had normal height and physiological curve;in the other patient,the natural curve was partly destroyed;no patient had loosing and disrupted internal fixation.According to preoperative Frankel evaluation,1 case was classified as Frankel A,1 Frankel B;5 Frankel C,3 Frankel D,and 8 Frankel E before the operation;while postoperative classification showed 1 case of Frankel B;1 cases of Frankel C,and 16 cases of Frankel E.Conclusions Transpedicular fixation combined with mixed transpedicular structural and cancellous bone granule graft is safe and effective for the treatment of severe compressed or burst thoracolumbar spinal fractures.

Objective To investigate the microvessel density of stomach tumor and the relationship between the microvessel density and CT findings.Methods Conventional contrast-enhanced CT scans were performed in 64 patients with stomach tumor(OMNIPAQUE 100 ml,3.0 ml/s),the images at 45 s were gained.After operation,the specimens with partial normal stomach tissue were dealed with injecting the contrast medium through its feeding arteries(10 ml/100 g,within 30 min),then,the specimens underwent CT scan(delayed time 10 s and 20 s),the nets of blood vessel of the masses were reconstructed by post-processed.The density of masses was evaluated in comparison with the enhanced effect of masses before operation.The pathological examinations of specimens were done and the microvessel density of tumors were measured through immunohistochemical technique.The hemodynamic characteristics of tumors were analysed.Results In tumors,the highest density(D)increased with the tumor rank(beside dead band).The visive vessels of specimen were more than that on conventional contrast-enhanced CT,but the D/d(the highest density in the masses/the density in normal stomach tissue)was basically consistent.Conclusion For gastric carcinoma,the D/d ratio can reflect the microvessel density of the tumors on certainly and the hemodynamic characteristics of tumors.

Adult ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; Cross Infection/prevention & control* ; Female ; Health Personnel/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Tract Diseases/virology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Taiwan/epidemiology*

Background and purpose:It was reported that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is closely related with carcinomas. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common carcinomas in China. The present study investigated the expression and clinical significance of NFAT isoforms in ESCC. Methods:The expression of NFAT isoforms and the differences in different pathological levels of ESCC were detected in 104 specimens of human ESCC tissues and normal esophageal tissues by immunohistochemistry. Results:This study found that the positive rates of NFAT1 (53.8%), NFAT2 (10.6%), NFAT3 (26.9%), NFAT4 (45.2%) expression were significantly higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal esophageal tissues (P<0.001), respectively. The positive rate of NFAT1 expression was significant-ly higher in drinkers (62.3%) than nondrinkers (37.1%, P=0.01), and also higher in patients with lymph node metastasis (68.4% vs 5.5%, P=0.002) and with late stage (58.7% vs 36.2%, P=0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that NFAT1 expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis. The positive rate of NFAT3 was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis (39.4%) than in those without lymph node metastasis (19.7%, P=0.03). Conclusion:These results suggest that the overexpression of NFAT1 and NFAT3 is associated with lymph node metastasis in ESCC.

In Taiwan, high-risk patients have been identified and tested for preventing community spread of COVID-19. Most sample collection was performed in emergency departments (EDs). Traditional sample collection requires substantial personal protective equipment (PPE), healthcare professionals, sanitation workers, and isolation space. To solve this problem, we established a multifunctional sample collection station (MSCS) for COVID-19 testing in front of our ED. The station is composed of a thick and clear acrylic board (2 cm), which completely separates the patient and medical personnel. Three pairs of gloves (length, 45 cm) are attached and fixed on the outside wall of the MSCS. The gloves are used to conduct sampling of throat/nasal swabs, sputum, and blood from patients. The gap between the board and the building is only 0.2 cm (sealed with silicone sealant). ED personnel communicate with patients using a small two-way broadcast system. Medical waste is put in specific trashcans installed in the table outside the MSCS. With full physical protection, the personnel conducting the sampling procedure need to wear only their N95 mask and gloves. After we activated the station, our PPE, sampling time, and sanitization resources were considerably conserved during the 4-week observation period. The MSCS obviously saved time and PPE. It elevated the efficiency and capacity of the ED for handling potential community infections of COVID-19.
Betacoronavirus ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; organization & administration ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Pandemics ; Personal Protective Equipment ; supply & distribution ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Taiwan ; epidemiology

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common pathology type of thyroid carcinoma with the following biological characteristics:low malignancy,slow progress,longer duration,good prognosis,but it is prone to lymph node metastasis.Lateral lymph node metastasis relates with patients' age,sex,tumor size,tumor location,capsular invasion/extra-thyroidal extension,muli-focality and the number of positive central lymph nodes.Understanding the influencing factors of the lateral lymph node metastasis has important clinical significance for determining the lymph node dissection scope and the indications for the patients with thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cost-effectiveness of 3 different therapeutic regimens for chronic urticaria.METHODS: 3 oral therapeutic regimens including regimen A(triprolidinen plus ranitidine),regimen B(levocetirizine),and regimen C(levocetirizine plus antipruritic) were analyzed using cost-effectiveness analysis.RESULTS: The total costs of regimen A,B,and C were 91.96 yuan,54.16 yuan and 356.56 yuan,respectively;The effective rates were 76.09%,74.00% and 91.84%,respectively;The cost-effectiveness ratios were 120.86,73.19 and 388.24,respectively.As compared with regimen B,the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for regimen A and C were 1 808.61 and 1 695.07,respectively.CONCLUSION: Regimen C is the preferable one in terms of the cost-effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for storage management of injection drugs protected from light in inpatient phar-macy of hospital. METHODS:From Jan. to Mar. 2016,the storage items of injection drugs protected from light in inpatient phar-macy of our hospital and the current storage situation were surveyed,the quality management tool PDCA circulation was adopted to improve storage situation and evaluate the effect of PDCA. RESULTS:For improper storage of injection drugs protected from light caused by employees lacking knowledge in photophobic knowledge,unfamiliar to the list of injection drugs protected from light, no packaging in returned drugs,after developing and carrying out corresponding countermeasures,including reinforcing staff train-ing,studying characteristics of the new-coming drug timely,renewal photophobic knowledge and the list of injection drugs protect-ed from light,and ameliorating working procedure,the light storage pass rate was increased from 96.5% to 100% in 310 injection drugs protected from light in inpatient pharmacy. CONCLUSIONS:Appling PDCA can effectively improve the storage management of injection drugs protected from light and provide reliable protection for the drugs'safe and effective application.

AIM: To investigate the role of ubiquitin-proteasome system ( UPS) in adipocyte differentiation. METHODS:Differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes was induced by treatment with insulin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and dexamethasone.Western blot and immunoprecipitation were performed to detect the protein abundances and association, respectively.Oil red O staining was used to determine the intracellular lipid of 3T3-L1 adipocytes.The levels of mRNA were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) .RESULTS:UPS inhibitor bortezomib (BZM) suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, evidenced by reduced intracellular content of triglyceride, and decreased mRNA expression of adipogenic marker proteins such as adiponectin and adipocyte protein 2.In contrast, administration of sildenafil (SDN), an activator of protein kinase G which was also found to activate UPS, promo-ted adipocyte differentiation.In addition, BZM treatment decreased the expression of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ( PPARγ) in the soluble fraction and reduced association of HSP90 and PPARγ.Furthermore, HSP90-specific N-terminal inhibitor geldanamic mitigated SDN-induced increase in PPARγlevel and 3T3-L1 cell differentiation.CONCLUSION:UPS modulates HSP90-dependent PPARγstability, thus leading to pro-motion of adipocyte differentiation.