Objective To explore the effect of high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for the treatment of neurological pulmonary edema (NPE) in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation,and to look for the best mechanical ventilation strategy to improve the prognosis.Methods A prospective study was conducted,and 120 patients with NEP admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University from January 2010 to August 2013 were enrolled and divided into two groups according to random number table (n=60 in each group).The patients in two groups were given empiric treatment for the disease,and they underwent mechanical ventilation.In the normal PEEP group PEEP was 3-10 cmH2O (1 cmH2O =0.098 kPa),and in the high PEEP group PEEP was 11-30 cmH2O,and all the rest parameters were the same.Clinical indices before and 7 days after treatment,and 28-day morality rate were compared between two groups.Results The 28-day morality rate in high PEEP group was obviously lower than that in the normal PEEP group [25.0％ (15/60) vs.65.0％ (39/60),x2=6.465,P=0.011].The clinical signs in both groups were improved after treatment.Compared with the normal PEEP group,the clinical indices in high PEEP group were more significantly improved.There were significant differences in body temperature (℃ 37.4 ± 0.5 vs.38.5 ± 0.6),respiratory rate (times/min 18.3 ± 3.1 vs.23.3 ±3.5),heart rate (beats/min 94.7 ±8.5 vs.113.5 ±8.0),white blood cell count [WBC (× 109/L) 12.5 ±2.1 vs.17.1 ± 1.7],acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score (15.6 ± 3.2 vs.19.8 ± 3.7),Glasgow coma score (GCS 12.5 ± 2.1 vs.8.5 ± 2.9),gastrointestinal dysfunction score (3.9 ± 3.0 vs.3.6 ± 2.4),oxygenation index [PaO2/FiO2 (mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) 196.5 ± 45.1 vs.134.1 ± 22.3],serum creatinine [SCr (μmol/L) 86.5 ± 35.6 vs.98.5 ± 37.7],total bilirubin [TBil (μmol/L) 39.7 ± 23.5 vs.41.5 ± 16.2],C-reacting protein [CRP (mmol/L) 53.7 ± 21.4 vs.108.4 ± 26.3],prothrombin time [PT (s) 15.0 ± 2.1 vs.20.4 ± 2.2],activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT (s):37.3 ±4.9 vs.56.7 ± 13.6],international normalized ratio (INR 2.52 ±0.64 vs.4.01 ±0.77),extra vascular lung water index [EVLWI (mL/kg) 7.53 ± 1.21 vs.15.85 ±3.41],pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI 6.07 ± 0.89 vs.9.47 ± 1.26),mean arterial pressure [MAP (mmHg) 87.3 ± 10.9 vs.98.7 ± 13.6],cardiac output [CO (L/min) 7.15 ± 1.42 vs.5.65 ± 1.82],systemic vascular resistance index [SVRI (KP) 112.4 ± 9.5 vs.136.5 ± 11.9],and blood lactate (mmol/L:2.53 ± 1.23 vs.5.81 ± 2.17) between high PEEP group and normal PEEP group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion Prognosis can be improved in NPE patients with the use of high PEEP in mechanical ventilation.

Objective To study the clinical effects of Ditan Xingnao Chengqi soup for treatment of patients with sepsis brain dysfunction. Methods Sixty-two cases of sepsis brain dysfunction were divided into treatment group(32 cases)and control group(30 cases)according to random digits table. Both groups received general clinical treatment,while the treatment group additionally accepted Ditan Xingnao Chengqi soup through nasal feeding. The changes of C-reactive protein(CRP)of two groups before treatment and after treatment for 12,24,48,72 hours and 1 week were observed. Besides,the Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS)was used to assess the curative effect of two groups, and its clinical significance was judged. Meanwhile,the hospitalization costs,the times staying in hospital and total effective rates of the two groups after treatment were observed. In addition,cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out. Results With the extension of therapeutic time,the levels of CRP(mg/L)in the two groups were reduced effectively in comparison with those before treatment,and the change was more obvious in the treatment group;after treatment for 24 hours,the difference in the level of CRP between the two groups began to be statistically significant(106.5±22.3 vs. 201.6±25.4,P<0.05). The GOS of two groups after treatment had been increased markedly in comparison to that before treatment,and the change was more obvious in treatment group(72 hours:10.34±0.76 vs. 7.34±0.48,1 week:13.16±0.86 vs. 9.56±0.64,both P<0.05). Hospitalization costs(yuan)of treatment group in intensive care unit (ICU)was lower than that in control group(43276.16±1844.23 vs. 51347.75±2011.06,P<0.05),and the duration of staying(day)in ICU of treatment group was shorter than that in control group(15.11±2.25 vs. 20.30±2.97,P<0.05). The total effective rate of treatment group was higher than that of control group,but the difference had no statistical significance(87.5%vs. 60.0%,P>0.05).The ratio of cose effectiveness analysis in treatment group was smaller than that of control group(497.42 vs. 855.80,P<0.05). Conclusions Ditan Xingnao Chengqi soup has a relatively good effect on antagonizing inflammatory factors,controlling excessive inflammatory response and improving disturbance of consciousness. The early intervention with this agent for a patient with sepsis cognitive impairment can control the disease situation,improve the patient's prognosis and reduce his or her hospitalization costs.

Objective To explore the relationship between flood ing and the prevalence of schistosomiasis in the river beach area. Met hods The subjects were investigated on the ways of exposure, frequency and duratio n of water conta cted from May to November in 1999, and eggs of Schistosoma were examined bef ore and after flooding. Results Exposure to infested water for human being s in the area comprised productive, living and recreational contacts including 11 kinds of activities, and 53.55% of the subjects contacted infested w ater. The number of person, frequency and duration of water contacted in floodin g strongly increased; the infection rate and density among population stron gly increased after flooding. There was significant difference between the infec tion rate in exposure group and that in non-exposure group. Conclusions It can be inferred that flooding has increased water contacted and i nfection, therefore, health education should be strengthened to avoid or dec rease water contact.