Objective To investigate the mechanism and significance of low concentration nitric oxide (NO) inhalation in the treatment of pulmonary thromboembelism in swine. Method The pulmonary thromboem-bolism(PTE) model was made in 15 healthy infantile swines which were subsequently assigned to either control group (n = 8) or NO group (n = 7). Swines of the control group were not treated with any medicine, while 10 ppm of NO was administered by continuous inhalation for 2 hours to swines of NO group. Volume of physiological dead space (VDphy), volume of alveolar dead space (VDalv), intrapulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), arterial blood pH (pH), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) were measured 30 min before and 0 min, 30 min, 60 min, 120 min and 180 min after establishment of VIE. Results The post-FIE VDphy, VDalv, Qs/Qt and PAP in both groups increased markedly after PTE compared with the cor-responding pre-PTE measurements (P < 0.01). Post-FIE PaO2 of both groups decreased significandy (P <0.05 and P <0.01), while significance difference was found between pre- and post-PTE HR, SBP, CO, pH or PaCO2 in neither groups (P > 0.05). Both post-PTE PAP and VDalv in NO group were markedly lower(P <0.05 and P <0.01) and beth PaCO2 and PaO2 were much higher than those of the control group (P <0.05). No signi-fieant difference were found in other measurements between two groups. Conclusions Pulmonary arterial pressure may be lowered, alveoli dead space may be reduced and PaCO2 increased by low concentration NO inhalation for the treatment of PIE without decline in haemodynamic status.

BACKGROUND: With social development, the average life span is prolonged. The issue of aging has increasingly attracted people's attention. It is necessary to promote the health status and the guality of life of the elderly..OBJECTIVE: To understand the status and distribution features of several common diseases which influence the quality of life of elderly.DESIGN: Random cluster sampling methods and a cross-section survey.SETTING: Beijing Institute of Geriatrics of Beijing Hospital.PARTICIPANTS:Totally 1 558 old people aged ≥60 years living in 10 communities affiliated to Jianguomen district office of the Eastern District of Beijing City,and 8 villages affiliated to Xiangyang and Henan Villagers'Commissions of Shunyi County of Beijing from May 1997 and October 1997 were recruited.In fact,1 434 persons responded,with a response rate being 92％,319 males and 498 females came from the city;242 males and 375 females came from the villages.METHODS:Questionnaires were filled up,and physical examinations were conducted in all the elderly. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The 6 common diseases were observed among the elderly: Hyperplasia of prostate, abnormal audition, cartaract ,osteoarthritis, fracture and constipation.RESULTS:Totally 1434 elderly entered the stage of result analysis.①The incidence of hyperplasia of prostate in the males from the urban areas was lower than that in the rural areas (61.4％,65.7％, P ＜ 0.01 ). ② The incidence of abnormal audition among the elderly from the urban areas was lower than that in the rural areas (53.9％,64.7％,P ＜ 0.01).③ The incidence of cataract of the two eyes in the elderly from the urban areas was higher than that in the rural areas(46.4％,44.4％, P ＜ 0.01). ④ The incidence of osteoarthropathy in the elderly from the urban areas was higher than that in the rural areas (24.4％,14.9, P ＜ 0.01). ⑤ The incidence of fracture in the elderly from the urban areas was higher than that in the rural areas (14.2％,9.1％, P ＜ 0.05). ⑥ The incidence of constipation of the elderly in urban areas was lower than that in the rural areas(18.2％,23.0％,P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION:There is a difference between the elderly from the urban areas and the rural areas in hyperplasis of prostate,abnormal audition, cataract, osteoarthropathy, fracture and constipation, and this is related with the economy, nutrition, medical conditions and cultural traits.Therefore, attention should be attached to nutrition and health knowledge of the elderly and prevention and treatment of common diseases among the elderly people.