ObjectiveTo study the differences in expression profiles of peripheral blood specific serum micro RNA(miRNA) in the comparison between those before and after Baihu Renshen decoction combined with Fufang Xiebai capsules for treatment of patients with severe pneumonia.Methods 136 patients with severe pulmonary infection accompanied by heat-phlegmand sthenic-fu syndrome admitted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Kunshan First People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University from January 2012 to December 2013 were enrolled in the study. They were treated with basic treatment and Baihu Renshen decoction〔gypsum 30 g(broken, wrapped in cotton cloth, firstly put in water to be boiled), American ginseng 4 g, fritillaria 10 g, bupleurum chinense 10 g, skullcap 10 g, fried gardenia(pittosporm root) 10 g, forsythia 12 g, honeysuckle 10 g, spiderwort grass(dayflower) 15 g, prepared licorice root 4 g〕 combined with Fufang Xiebai capsules〔mainly composed of longstamen onion bulb(macrostem onion)12 g, melon wilt(fructus trichosanthis) 12 g, pinellia 10 g, coptis chinensis 3 g〕. The changes of serum miRNA expression profiles before and after treatment were analyzed by Solexa sequencing. The peripheral blood serum specific miRNAs were confirmed by real-time fluorescent quantitation-polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR). Before and after treatment, the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve) of patients with severe pulmonary infection was drawn, and the ROC curve was used to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of serum miRNA to the efficacy of the combination therapy and evaluate its clinical value.Results Solexa sequencing suggested that 42 kinds of miRNA appear to have over 2-fold in difference in the comparison between profiles before and after Baihu Renshen decoction combined with Fufang Xiebai capsules treatment. Real-time qRT-PCR confirmed miR-146a, miR-125b and miR-155 expressions were significantly decreased over 10 fold, suggesting that they should be specific miRNAs. The area under the ROC curve(AUC) of miR-146a was 0.81,95% confidence interval(95%CI)=0.73 - 0.89,miR-125b AUC=0.77,95%CI=0.71 - 0.83 and miR-155 AUC=0.89, 95%CI=0.83 - 0.95. Then, through selected clinical truncated(cut off)value,the sensitivity and specificity of three kinds of serum miRNA were calculated: 63% and 87% of miR-146a, 53% and 73% of miR-125b and 56% and 83% of miR-155.ConclusionAddition of Baihu Renshen decoction combined with Fufang Xiebai capsules on the basic treatment can induce significant changes of peripheral blood serum miRNA expression profiles in patients with severe pneumonia, and miR-146a, miR-125b and miR-155 among miRNAs could be their specific changes.

Objective To study the effects of Baihu Rensen decoction combined with Fufang Xiebai capsules for treatment of patients with severe pneumonia accompanied by heat-phlegm and sthenic-fu syndrome.Methods A prospective study was conducted; 266 severe pneumonia cases with heat-phlegm and sthenic-fu syndrome admitted into the Department of Respiratory Diseases in Kunshan Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University from January 2012 to December 2013 were selected. The patients were randomly divided into a integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine group (136 cases) and a western medicine treatment group (130 cases). Both groups were given basic conventional western medicine according to the disease situation. The integrated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was additionally given Baihu Rensen decoction combined with 350 mg of Fufang Xiebai capsules, 3 times a day, 4 grain each time, 7 days constituting a course of treatment. The rate of body temperature descent, the degree of improvement in clinical TCM symptoms, peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil percentage and the situation of endogenous pyrogen production in the two groups were compared.Results After treatment, the body temperature, TCM symptom scores, WBC count and neutrophil percentage were lower than those before treatment, 3 days after treatment these data reached their valley values, and the decrease in level was more significant in the combination group [body temperature (℃): 36.5±0.0 vs. 37.0±0.0, TCM symptom scores: 1.7±0.2 vs. 6.1±0.7, WBC (×109/L): 7.1±0.3 vs. 8.3±0.5, neutrophil percentage: 0.64±0.02 vs. 0.76±0.23, allP < 0.05]. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon (IFN-α, IFN-γ), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in western medicine (WM) group was respectively marked 1, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 in combination group after treatment for 6 hours were significantly lower than those of WM group, and reached the valley at 12 hours (the relative expression value of each of the above indexes in combination group to each of those in WM group was 0.37, 0.16, 0.21, 0.27 and 0.15 respectively), and had a mild rebound at 24 hours.Conclusion By the addition of Baihu Rensen decoction combined with Fufang Xiebai capsules on conventional basic medicine for treatment of severe pneumonia patients with heat-phlegm and sthenic-fu syndrome, the therapeutic effect is much better.

Objective:To report the results of neurocutaneous axial island flaps in the forearm in clinical application.Methods:12 patients with soft tissue defects around the elbow and the wrist were treated with proximally or distally based island flaps based on the lateral and medial forearm cutaneous nerves.The flaps measured 9cm?8cm to 4cm?3cm.Results:The flaps totally survived in 11 pa- tients,the other was patially survived.The color and texture of the flaps were good.Their appearance and function were satisfactory after 12～18 months follow—up.Conclusions:On the basis of the vascu- larization of the lateral and medial cutaneous nerves of the forearm,some reliable island flaps were raised successfully.These flaps are easy to dissection and have a large arc of rotaion.They were satisfac- tory in repairing the soft tissue defects around the elbow,the distalone of third of the forearm and the wrist.

Objective To research the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT)for sepsis and bacterial infection in children,and evaluate the value of severity and prognosis evaluation by dynamic monitoring for PCT levels in children with sepsis.Methods Prospective study.From July 2011 to April 2012,297 children in PICU were divided into sepsis group(n =125)and non-sepsis group(n =172).The sepsis group were divided into severe sepsis group and non-severe sepsis group,at same time,to be divided into bacterial sepsis group and non-bacterial sepsis group.The concentrations of serum PCT,C-reactive protein (CRP),WBC,neutrophil ratio in different time periods were obtained;the pediatric critical illness scores were conducted and sepsis related organ failure assessment were evaluated,the condition of prognosis was observed.Results The level of PCT in sepsis group and non-sepsis group were (21.31 ± 18.27)ng/ml,(4.35 ± 2.63)ng/ml,respectively.PCT of sepsis group was higher than that of non-sepsis group (t =4.744,P ＜ 0.01).The area under ROC curve of PCT,CRP and WBC in sepsis group were 0.737 (95 ％ confidence interval:0.633 ～ 0.840),0.704 (95 ％ confidence interval:0.610 ～ 0.799),0.666 (95 ％ confidence interval:0.554 ～0.778),respectively.When the level of PCT was 10 ng/ml,the diagnosis of severe sepsis had critical value,with sensitivity 80.2％ and specificity 82.6％.We found that PCT rapidly increased at the early infection by dynamically observing PCT,CRP and WBC of sepsis group.Furthermore,when the infection was controlled after using the antibiotic for 5 days,PCT also quiekly came down.However,CRP,WBC remained high level after controlling the infection and they declined slower than PCT.The PCT level of the children in the dead group was significantly higher than that in the survival group.PCT showed negative correlation with pediatric critical illness score (r =-0.621,P ＜ 0.05),and positive correlation with sepsis related organ failure assessment(r =0.755,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion PCT has important value for diagnosing severe sepsis and bacterial sepsis.Dynamic PCT monitoring is valuable in severity classification and prognosis assessment for critically ill children with sepsis,and provide guides for clinicians to adjust the antibiotic use in time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in serum amylase (AMY) and lipase (LPS) and their clinical significance in patients with acute paraquat poisoning (APP).

METHODSThe clinical data of 62 APP. patients who were admitted to Guangzhou 12th People's Hospital in 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. With clinical death being regarded as the end point of observation, the 62 patients were divided into survival group (n=32) and death group (n=30). The fasting venous blood of the patients on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after admission were collected, and the AMY and LPS levels were determined; the obtained data were compared between the two groups and analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe AMY and LPS levels of the survival group on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after admission were significantly lower than those of the death group (P<0.05); the AMY and LPS levels of the death group on the 3rd day were significantly higher than those on the 1st day after admission (P<0.05); the survival group demonstrated no significant changes in AMY and LPS levels (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONChanges in AMY and LPS levels in APP patients are reliable indicators for the determination of poisoning severity and prognosis.

Amylases ; blood ; Humans ; Lipase ; blood ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; blood ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the clinical value of improved percutaneous tramhepatic cholangiographic drainage(PTCD)and percutaneous placement of biliary metallic stents on the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice.Methods Thirty three patients with malignant biliary obstruction were treated by the improved PTCD guided by ultrasound followed by pereutaneous placement of biliary tract metallic stcnts 1～3 weeks later.Results Improved PTCD WaS succeeded in all the patients,30 patients(90.9%)accepted percutaneous placement of biliary metallic stents successfully,3 patients who failed in stents placement accepted PTCD again for palliative management of iallndice.Thofle who failed in stent placement were found to have bleeding from the PTCD tube,but recovered several days later.Jaundice alleviated in all the patients.The patients were followed up for 1～29 months,medium follow-up period is 14.8 months.Six cases were found lever and jaundice,among that,two ageepted improved PTCD again,one recovered after antibioic treatment,the remaining 3 patients failed in further treatment due to the metastasis of the tumor.Condusion Pereutaneous placement of biliary metallic stents after improved PTCD is a safe and effeetive method to relieve malignant biliary obstruction,it can improve life quality,prolong survival time.This method could be a good choice for treating the patients with mnlignant biliary obstruction without operation.

ObjectiveTo explore the value of elevated amylase in assessment of severity of the disease and its inlfuencing factors in critically ill children.MethodThe clinical data from critically ill children hospitalized in pediatric intensive care unit were retrospectively analyzed from November 2009 to June 2014. According to levels of serum amylase, the critically ill children were divided into normal serum amylase group (≤103 IU/L) and elevated serum amylase group (>103 IU/L). The differences between two groups were compared.ResultsA total of 1920 critically ill children were enrolled, most of whom had primary respiratory and neurological diseases. Among them, 1470 children had normal serum amylase (76.6%) and 450 children had ele-vated serum amylase (23.4%). The elevated serum amylase group had signiifcantly higher rate of organs failure (≥4), lower rate of PCIS (<70), higher rate of invasive mechanical ventilation and mortality than those in normal serum amylase group (P<0.001). The correlation of serum amylase with lipase blood, urine amylase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were signiifcant (r=0.246 to 0.683,P<0.001). Blood amylase was positively correlated with shock index (r=0.111,P=0.002) and negatively correlated with respiratory failure index (r=0.133,P<0.001).ConclusionsSerum amylase could be used to assess the severity of disease. The elevated amylase was closely related to pancreatic exocrine function, renal function, ischemia, and hypoxia. The elevated serum amylase in critically ill children is a warning sign.

Objective To investigate the adrenal histopathology damage in critically ill non-survival children,and the incidence of adrenal damage,and to explore the risk factors for the adrenal hemorrhage and necrosis in critically ill children.Methods A total of 141 critically ill non-survival children was admitted in this study in Hunan Children's Hospital from January 1,2005 to December 30,2012.Clinical data in children were systematically collected,including age,sex,sodium,potassium,blood gas analysis,liver and kidney function,blood clotting function,etiology,treatment and pediatric clinical illness score (PCIS) or neonatal critical illness score (NCIS),and pathological data.All data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0.Results Logistic regression analysis showed the factors of adrenal hemorrhage and necrosis of critically ill non-survival children were sepsis,PCIS score ＜ 80 critically ill children are risk factors for adrenal hemorrhage necrosis (P ＜ 0.05),ORwas 3.659 (95％ CI:1.344-9.965),and 2.325 (95％ CI:1.028 -5.258).Intravenous corticosteroids were protective factors for critically ill non-survival children with adrenal hemorrhage necrosis (P ＜ 0.05),and ORwas 0.377 (95％ CI:0.163-0.875).Conclusions There were two significant risk factors of adrenal hemorrhage and necrosis:sepsis and critical illness score less than 80 points.Intravenous corticosteroid is a protective factor in critically ill children.

Objective To analyze the clinical features of critically ill children with abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings in order to explore the related risk factors for offering evidence-based diagnosis of pancreatic damage secondary to critical illness.Methods A prospective study was performed in 531 critically ill children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit(PICU) of 17 children' hospitals from January 2012 to March 2014.All patients were divided into control group(513 cases) and abnormal group(18 cases) according to the pancreatic ultrasound findings.Comparison of clinical features and biochemical indicators were made between two groups.The related risk factors associated with abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings were analyzed by using Logistic regression analysis.ROC curves were used to evaluate the role of amylase and lipase in the diagnose of abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings.Results The incidence of abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings in critically ill children was 3.39%, the average age of abnormal group was significantly older than that in control group (P<0.01).There were not statistically significant differences in gender and primary disease between two groups.The incidence of hypotension was 22.2% and the incidence of abdominal muscle tension was 16.7% in abnormal group,which were statistically higher than those in control group (P<0.05).The levels of calcium, albumin of abnormal group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01), and levels of serum amylase, lipase, lactate dehydrogenase in abnormal group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01).The risk factors associated with abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings were age, blood pressure, calcium,amylase.Area under the ROC curve of abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings determined by amylase and lipase were 0.803 and 0.745,respectively (P<0.05).The sensitivity was 0.667, specificity was 0.881 when the serum amylase was 101.5 U/L, the sensitivity was 0.722, specificity was 0.928 when the serum lipase was 96.9 U/L.Conclusions The incidence of abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings was rather low in critically ill children.The risk factors associated with abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings were hypotension, hypocalcemia, and hyperamylasemia.The elevated serum amylase and lipase might be the most likely factors associtaed with abnormal pancreatic ultrasound findings.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of the reversed saphenous fasciocutaneous island flap combined with the VSD therapy in plate exposure of the distal tibia.Methods From January 2008 to July 2010,seven patients with hardware exposure following internal fixation of the distal tibia fracture were treated by VSD therapy and reversed saphenous fasciocutaneous island flap reconstruction.The VSD therapy was performed from 7 to 26 days after hardware exposure,and the flap transfer was performed 7 to 14 days after the VSD therapy.The size of the soft-tissue defect ranged from 4 cm × 2 cm to 13 cm × 4 cm.The mean follow-up was 10.6 months after the fracture (range,8-14 months).Results The average times of the VSD therapy was 1.3.After VSD was removed,the exposed hardware was covered by healthy granulation tissue in all cases.All flaps were successfully transplanted,and the size of flap ranged from 6 cm × 3 cm to 15 cm × 6 cm.Six of 7 flaps survived completely without further procedures.The necrosis of the distal margin of the flap occurred in 1 patient.A solid bony union was confirmed by the X-ray in all patients after 4-6 months postoperatively.No skin defects or fistulae were observed.Conclusion The combination of the reversed saphenous fasciocutaneous island flap and VSD therapy could save the exposed hardware and cover the soft tissue defects in the distal tibia.