Objective To investigate the value of plasma N terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-BNP) in dialysis adequacy assessment of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).Methods One hundred and twelve MHD patients were divided into hemodialysis adequacy group (group A,63 patients,cardiothoracic ration ＜0.5) and hemodialysis inadequate group (group B,49 patients,cardiothoracic ration ≥ 0.5).The plasma NT-BNP levels of pre-dialysis,dialysis end,4th and 24th hour after dialysis were compared.Before and after dialysis the inferior vena cava diameter (VCD) was checked.The correlation between NT-BNP level at the end of dialysis,cardiothoracic ration and post dialysis VCD were analyzed.Results The levels of NT-BNP in group A,B before dialysis were(13 808 ± 7611) and (25 573 ± 8444)ng/L respectively,and there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.01).The levels of NT-BNP in two groups increased at the end of dialysis,but there was no significant difference (P ＞0.05).Then the levels of NT-BNP in two groups decreased significantly at 4th hour after dialysis (P ＜ 0.01).The levels of NT-BNP in two groups at 4th hour after dialysis were (8256 ±6611) and (21 320 ±6828) ng/L,and there was significant difference (P＜ 0.01).At 24th hour after dialysis,the level of NT-BNP in group A was still at a low level,but in group B,the level of NT-BNP increased again.Before dialysis,the levels of VCD between two groups had no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).After dialysis,the level of VCD in group B decreased significantly(P ＜ 0.05).After dialysis,the level of VCD in group B was significantly higher than that in group A(P＜ 0.05).The level of NT-BNP had positive relationship with cardiothoracic ration and VCD (r =0.462,P＜ 0.01 ;r =0.513,P＜ 0.01).Conclusion The level of NT-BNP can reflect the volume overload and urea clearance index of MHD,which may be a more comprehensive evaluation index of the adequacy of dialysis.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)is an important human pathogen that causes chronic viral hepatitis worldwide.HCV infection,often persistent and asymptomatic,could lead to liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.The interferon/ribavirin therapy has been widely used for treating chronic hepatitis C,but it is not always effective and has strong side effects.The development of small-molecule di-rect antiviral agents (DAA)has greatly improved the curing efficiency of chronic hepatitis C therapeutics and will likely replace the interfer-on-based therapy in the future.However,these developments do not necessarily suggest that the problems of chronic hepatitis C have been completely solved.The HCV research is still facing many challenges in this new DAA era.

Thirty cases of obesity were treated by acupuncture plus auricular point-embedding method based upon pattern identification, and another 30 cases were treated by single auricular point-embedding method for control study. After the treatments for 30 days, the effective rate was respectively 90.0% and 66.7%, with the statistic significance (P＜0. 05) between the therapeutic effects of the two groups.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the content of 5 kinds of heavy metal elements in Astragalus membranaceus from Longxi of Gansu province,i.e. Pb,Cd,Cu,As,Hg. METHODS:Wet digestion pretreatment was carried out for samples and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used for the determination of heavy metal elements. RESULTS:The contents of 5 kinds of heavy metal elements in A. membranaceus from Longxi of Gansu Province were lower than the limit. CONCLUSION:AAS method can accurately determine the content of heavy metal elements in A. membranaceus.

Tho effects of native isosorbide mononitrate ( ISMN ) on the hemodynamics in rats with early myocardial infarction by left coronary artery occlusion were investigated. LVSP and dP/dtMAX were increased, and LVEDP was decreased with ISMN 5mg/kg i.v. 20 min after coronary occlusion. However, ISMN did not significantly effect the HR, SAP, DAP and MAP. The results showed that ISMN can improve cardial function in early myocardial infarction.

ObjectiveTo investigate the manifestation and diagnostic value of MRI in the patients with non-thyroid-related exophthalmos.Methods One hundred and sixty-eight patients with non-thyroidrelated exophthalmos confirmed by histopathology underwent MRI examination using 8-channel phased array head coil.Of 168 patients,165 underwent contrast-enhanced MRI.Results Of the 168 cases,68 were hemangioma,34 were lymphoma,14 were pleomorphic adenoma of the lacrimal gland,12 were inflammatory pseudotumor,6 were adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland,6 were schwannoma,5 were dermoid cyst,5 were meningioma,3 were solitary fibrous tumor,2 were optic nerve glioma,2 were embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma,2 were lipoma,et al.Of the 165 enhanced cases,the MRI diagnosis was in accordance with surgical pathology findings in 111 cases (67.3％ ).The tumor was hemangioma in 65,lymphoma in 22,pleomorphic adenoma of the lacrimal gland in 10,inflammatory pseudotumor in 5,meningioma in 3,adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland in 3,optic nerve glioma in 1,schwannoma in 1,and dermoid cyst in 1.Eleven cases simultaneously had dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI,the MRI diagnosis was consistent with pathological findings in 10 cases,which included 7 hemangioma,2 lymphoma,and 1 meningioma.The time-intensity curves of DCE-MRI showed persistent enhancement type,rapidly enhancing and rapid wash-out and plateau-shaped type,and rapidly enhancing and rapid wash-out,respectively.Three cases showed soft tissue mass on only plain MRI.ConclusionsThe conventional orbital MRI can explore the causes of proptosis,which is helpful to determine the location and nature of the mass.Enhanced and DCE MRI can further observe blood supply of the lesions.

Objective To assess the relationship between anterior-inferior glenohumeral instability and glenoid version.Methods Both shoulders in 24 patients with unilateral anterior-inferior glenohumeral instability were scanned with multiplanar spiral CT scanner(MSCT).The scapula and the humerus were reconstructed by the volume rendering technique and multiplanar reformation in 4 slices on axial plane from glenoid top to its bottom.The scapular glenoid version angles of 24 patients were measured bilaterally in 4 levels,and compared bilaterally by statistic analysis.Results From the top to the bottom,the scapular glenoid version angle in the side with anterior-inferior glenohumeral instability was respectively(-15.24?10.18)?,(-8.22?8.47)?,(-2.88?4.56)? and(-2.49?6.43)?,while the angle in the healthy side was respectively(-15.07?12.11)?,(-10.63?7.25)?,(-6.04?3.61)? and(-5.26?3.02)?.Only the difference at the 4th plane was significant between the healthy side and the affected side(P

Objective To study the role of Schwann cells apoptosis in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune neuritis(EAN) in TNF receptor Ⅰ knock out(TNFR Ⅰ-/-)mice.Methods For induction of EAN,TNFRⅠ-/- and wild type C57BL/6 mice were immunized by subcutaneous injection into the back with the peripheral nerve P0 protein peptide 180-199;clinical scores of EAN were assessed and scored immediately before immunization(day 0) and thereafter every other day until day 46 post immunization(p.i.).On day 22 p.i.,Schwann cells were collected from the two groups and cultivated in vitro.The expressions of Fas and Annexin-Ⅴ(Annexin-Ⅴ+/PI-)on Schwann cells from TNFRⅠ-/-and wild type EAN were detected by flow cytometry.Results More light clinical signs of EAN were observed in the TNFRⅠ-/-mice(1.50?0.19) than in wild type mice(1.90?0.16);the percentage of Fas expression on Schwann cells was significantly decreased in TNFRⅠ-/-mice(88.03%?1.40%)as compared with wild type mice(94.70%?1.53%)(P

Huichunzhibao oral liquid (HZOL ) is a traditional Chinese herb Preparation composedof Panax ginseng, Hairy Antler (Cervus nippon Tcmminck ) and Epimedium brevicornum Maixm..The active principle of each component was identified by TLC and icariin, the main active principle of E. brevicornum was determined quantitatively by HPLC. The meth od was found to be accuratc, sensitive and reproduciblc with average recovery 98.97 % andRSD = 1.53 (n = 3).

Isoelectric focusina Electrophoresis(lFE)was use to detenmine the isoelectric point of main protein composition in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM ) either of animal origin Such as (EuPotyPhage sinenses)orfrom fruit or seed of plants (such as the seed of CeIosia urgeatea). Results showed that their IFE bands werealways quite distinct,which can be used to assess their quality and to distinguish them from confusable varieties.