Objectives: To analyze the strategies of the diagnosis and treatment in patients with the pulmonary infection after renal transplantation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made on 28 cases of pulmonary infections among 285 patients undergoing renal transplantation. Results: The morbidity of pulmonary infection was 9.82%(28/285). The majority pathogens of pulmonary infection in this study were pseudomonas, staphylococcus epidermidis, canadida and cytomegalovirus. Chest X ray was important in the diagnosis, but there was no specificity to determine the pathogens. The mortality in 28 pulmonary infection patients was 32.1%(9/28). Most of the patients suffered from pulmonary infection within 4 months after the operation, and the postoperative period from 2 months to 4 months was a high risk time window for death caused by pulmonary infections. Conclusions: The morbidity and mortality of pulmonary infections, especially severe pneumonia, in patients with renal transplantation, are higher than healthy people. Treatment following clinical epidemiology and strategy of microbiology play a very important role to reduce the mortality in those patients.

Objective To investigate the rule of the cerebral tissues aquaporin-4(AQP-4) expression in acute and chronic hepatic failure mice.To study the molecular biologic mechanism of the diffusion weighted imaging(DWI).Methods Sixty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly,including acute(n=25),chronic hepatic failure(n=25)and control group(n=15). Thioacetamide(TAA)intraperitoneal injection produces the acute and chronic hepatic failure models.All rats in groups were examined with MR DWI.We Observed the distribution of abnormal signal on DWI.The DWI single values of top and lateral cortex of parietal lobe,peripheral region of lateral ventricle in the highest hyperintensity section of brain were measured.Blood ammonia values were examined.The pathologic and immuno-histochemistry and RT-PCR examination for brain specimen were performed.All date were analyzed with statistical methods.Results The mean values of blood ammonia were significantly different (P0.05).Conclusions Increase of the blood ammonia was the main cause for the brain energy metabolic abnormality and AQP-4 mRNA and protein expression.The hyperammonemia was the key factor in the occurrence and development of the hepatic brain edema.The abnormal findings in DWI signal could reflect the range and degree of the brain edema and AQP-4 protein expression.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of transurethral resection of the prostate combined with endocrine therapy (TURP + ET) with that of αlA-blockers combined with ET ((αlA-b + ET) in the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa), and to investigate the safety of the TURP + ET for the treatment of PCa with BOO.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 63 cases of PCa with BOO, 28 treated by αlA-b + ET and the other 35 by TURP + ET. We obtained the residual urine volume (RV), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and quality of life score (QoL) before and after treatment along with the overall survival rate of the patients, followed by comparison of the parameters between the two methods.

RESULTSAt 3 months after treatment, RV, IPSS, and QoL in the TURP + ET group were significantly decreased from (137.8 ± 27.6) ml, (22.3 ± 3.6), and (4.2 ± 0.8) to (29 ± 13.6) ml, (7.8 ± 2.1), and (1.6 ± 0.5) respectively (P < 0.05), while Qmax increased from (5.6 ± 2.1) ml/s to (17.6 ± 2.7) ml/s (P < 0.05); the former three parameters in the αlA-b + ET group decreased from (133.6 ± 24.9) ml, (21.5 ± 3.2), and (4.7 ± 1.1) to (42 ± 18.3) ml, (12.8 ± 2.6), and (2.5 ± 0.7) respectively (P < 0.05), while the latter one increased from (6.3 ± 2.4) ml/s to (11.7 ± 2.3) ml/s (P < 0.05), all with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). The overall survival rate of the TURP + ET group was not significantly different from that of the αlA-b + ET group (51.4% vs 46.4% , P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTURP + ET is preferable to αlA-b + ET for its advantage of relieving BOO symptoms in advanced PCa without affecting the overall survival rate of the patients.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of tanshinone IIA on HL-60 and K562 cells apoptosis, and to assay the inhibition of the telomerase activities in the leukemia cell apoptosis induced by Tanshinone.

METHODUsing the techniques of cell culture in vitro, flow cytometry and PCR-TRAP observed the telomerase activities and apoptosis of HL-60 and K562 cells which treated by Tan IIA.

RESULT0.5 microg x mL(-1) Tan IIA could obviously inhibit HL-60 and K562 cell lines growth (P < 0.05), down-regulate c-myc, bcl-2 gene and up-regulate c-fos and p53 gene expression as well as induce leukemia cell apoptosis, the apoptotic rates of HL-60 and K562 cells were 11.8% and 21.8% respectively. The telomerase activities significant decreased, the inhibiting rates in HL60 and K562 cells were 30.8% and 50.8% respectively.

CONCLUSIONTan IIA could significantly inhibit the proliferation and telomerase activities of HL-60 and K562 cells and induce the leukemia cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Phenanthrenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe multiple levels fragmentations of five furocoumarine (psoralen, xanthotoxin, bergapten, oxypeucedanin, and byakangelicol) in Angelica dahurica have been demonstrated using LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry with high resolution and high mass accuracy to discover the possible,fragmentation regularity.

METHODDuringcollsion-induced dissociation (CID), the MS(n) data of the five compoundswhich were gained in the positive ion mode at 35ev collision energy by direct injection syrings method were analyzed using Xcalibar 2.0 Software to infer the formula of these fragmentations.

RESULTThe results indicated that the five compounds have similar fragmentation process with CO meutral lost at C5,C8-subsituents and furan ring, meanwhile the meutralloss of CO2 occurred easily at lactone group.

CONCLUSIONThis method is helpful in identifying the structures of other furocoumarinein Angelica dahuricaand their metabolites in vivo.

Angelica ; chemistry ; Chemical Phenomena ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect on increasing bone cement-bone interface micro-gomphosis intensity with bone cement oscillator.

METHODSOne hundred femoral bones of adult pig were randomly divided into 6 groups: oscillating group (A1) and control group (A2) of anti-tensile force, oscillating group (B1) and control group (B2) of anti-pressure (n = 20 in each group), oscillating group (C1) and control group (C2) of imaging (n = 10 in each group). Mechanics and CT test was performed, micro-gomphosis intensity of bone cement-bone interface between oscillating group and control group was compared.

RESULTSMechanics and CT test showed bone cement-bone interface micro-gomphosis intensity in oscillating group was significantly stronger than control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBone cement oscillator can significantly increase micro-gomphosis intensity of bone-cement interface, and reduce long-term aseptic loosening of artificial prostheses.

Animals ; Bone Cements ; Cementation ; Equipment Design ; Femur ; Joint Prosthesis ; Male ; Materials Testing ; Mechanics ; Random Allocation ; Swine ; Vibration

OBJECTIVETo propose a method for predicting the postoperative anterior chamber depth value (ACD) based on the evaluation standard of contrast sensitivity function (CSF).

METHODSIn a personalized eye model, the natural lens was replaced with an artificial lens, and the tracing method based on ZEMAX software was utilized to simulate the pseudophakic optical system. The best MTF curve was obtained through optical optimization to calculate the CSF and determine the best contrast sensitivity (CS) curve. The best ACD value was acquired according to the CSF curve. The data form 10 cataract cases without retinal diseases were obtained and the postoperative ACD value was predicted using Holladay, Hoffer Q, SRK/T and the proposed method.

RESULTSConsistency analysis of the results showed that all the ACD values predicated by the 4 methods fell in 95% consistency within the boundaries, and the differences in the largest absolute value between the 3 methods (Holladay, Hoffer Q, and SRK/T) and the proposed method were 0.73 mm, 0.65 mm, and 0.68 mm, and the calculation results of the mean value were 5.846 mm, 5.804 mm, and 5.825 mm. Clinically, the two methods were deemed to have good consistency.

CONCLUSIONThe proposed method establishes a connection between the contrast sensitivity curve and ACD to allow better refraction adjustment for the patients.

Anterior Chamber ; anatomy & histology ; Anthropometry ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Postoperative Period ; Refractive Errors ; complications ; diagnosis ; rehabilitation

OBJECTIVETo examine the differences in food and antioxidant vitamin intake in current non-smokers,light smokers,and heavy smokers.

METHODS51 115 people (24 077 male, 27 038 female) aged above 15 years who had completed providing information on smoking habit and dietary intake, were selected from 2002 national health and nutrition survey.

RESULTSAfter adjustment for geographic areas and age, data showed the smokers ate more light vegetable and alcohol, less dark vegetable and fruit than non-smokers. Male smokers consumed more energetic stuff and macronutrients than non-smokers, but female smokers had opposite trends. Light smokers (LS) consumed less antioxidant than non-smokers (NS) after adjusted for area, age, BMI and energy, with carotene (Male LS = 1824.7 microg, NS = 1964.8 microg; Female LS = 1565.4 microg, NS = 2127.4 microg), thiamin (Male LS = 0.84 mg, NS = 0.85 mg; Female LS = 0.72 mg, NS = 0.74 mg), vitamin E (alpha) (Male LS = 9.2 mg, NS = 9.3 mg; Female LS = 7.4 mg, NS = 8.1 mg), vitamin C (Male LS = 91.2 mg, NS = 94.2 mg; Female LS = 76.9 mg, NS = 87.5 mg).

CONCLUSIONSmokers had a significantly lower overall mean dietary antioxidant vitamin intake than non-smokers. Increasing the daily consumption of variety of fruits and vegetables had been recommended to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Diet ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Smoking ; Vegetables ; Vitamins ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of surgical venous thrombectomy and simultaneous stenting in patients with acute, symptomatic iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

METHODSFrom October 2008 to December 2010, a total of 15 patients with acute symptomatic DVT underwent combined surgical venous thrombectomy and endovascular stenting in ipsilateral iliac vein. There were 6 male and 9 female patients, with a mean age of 57.4 years (ranging from 36 to 71 years). All patients underwent Duplex ultrasonography for diagnosis of DVT. The location of thrombosis was femoro-ilio-caval vein in 2 cases, bilateral iliac vein in 1 case and left iliofemoral vein in 12 cases. All patients had leg swelling and 12 cases had severe leg pain. The mean time of symptomatic DVT occurring at operation was 3.3 d. The factors related to DVT were operation in 6 cases, DVT reoccur in 2 cases. Coexist diseases were digestive tract bleeding in 1 case, gastric ulcer in 1 case, hypertension in 3 cases and 1 case had cerebral infarction. The inferior vena cava filter was inserted before thrombectomy, iliac vein compression and residual stenosis were treated with a self-expandable stent after thrombectomy.

RESULTSIntraoperative venography showed severe venous stenosis in all patients including 80% of iliac vein compression syndrome, 18 self-expandable stents were inserted successfully, the procedural successful rate was 100%, the 30-day mortality rate was 0.One case was suffered from hematoma at incision after operation. 3 patients were lost during follow-up. Median follow-up was 10.3 months (ranging from 2 to 26 months). There was no case of re-thrombosis. Leg pain was disappeared in all cases and only 2 patients showed slight leg swelling after excise.

CONCLUSIONCombined surgical thrombectomy and endovascular treatment for patients with acute symptomatic iliofemoral venous thrombosis is an effective and safe technique with low morbidity and good clinical results.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thrombectomy ; Vena Cava Filters ; Venous Thrombosis ; surgery

PURPOSE: Cockroaches are the second leading allergen in Taiwan. Sensitization to Per a 2, the major American cockroach allergen, correlates with clinical severity among patients with airway allergy, but there is limited information on IgE epitopes and tissue localization of Per a 2. This study aimed to identify Per a 2 linear IgE-binding epitopes and its distribution in the body of a cockroach. METHODS: The cDNA of Per a 2 was used as a template and combined with oligonucleotide primers specific to the target areas with appropriate restriction enzyme sites. Eleven overlapping fragments of Per a 2 covering the whole allergen molecule, except 20 residues of signal peptide, were generated by PCR. Mature Per a 2 and overlapping deletion mutants were affinity-purified and assayed for IgE reactivity by immunoblotting. Three synthetic peptides comprising the B cell epitopes were evaluated by direct binding ELISA. Rabbit anti-Per a 2 antibody was used for immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Human linear IgE-binding epitopes of Per a 2 were located at the amino acid sequences 57-86, 200-211, and 299-309. There was positive IgE binding to 10 tested Per a 2-allergic sera in 3 synthetic peptides, but none in the controls. Immunostaining revealed that Per a 2 was localized partly in the mouth and midgut of the cockroach, with the most intense staining observed in the hindgut, suggesting that the Per a 2 allergen might be excreted through the feces. CONCLUSIONS: Information on the IgE-binding epitope of Per a 2 may be used for designing more specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to cockroach allergy.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cockroaches ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Complementary ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitope Mapping* ; Epitopes ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; Feces ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mouth ; Peptides ; Periplaneta* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Taiwan