Objective To explore the relationship between the changes of Caspase 3mRNA expression and the injuried nervous cell apoptosis after rat focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury who was then treated by mild hypothermia.Methods The middle cerebral arteries(MCA) of SD rats were occluded for 2 hours,and reperfused for 12 hours.Using FCM and semiquantitative RT-PCR technique,the DNA fragmentation rate and Caspase 3mRNA expression level were detected in the shamoperation group,the control group and the mild hypothermia group,respectively.Results The DNA fragmentaation rate and Caspase 3mRNA expression level in the sham operation group and the mild hypothermia group were obviously lower than those in the control group.Conclusions The significantly decreased level of Caspase-3mRNA expression may be related to the obviously decreased nervous cell apoptosis after rat cerebrall ischemia/reperfusion injury treated by the mild hypothemia.

Objective To assess the value of one-stage hybrid technique for treatment of pernicious placenta previa. Methods 12 patients with pernicious placenta previa who had received simultaneously Cesarean section and temporary balloon occlusion of abdominal aorta or internal iliac artery in the hybrid operation room were included in this study. 12 patients with pernicious placenta previa who had preserved balloon ducts in internal iliac artery before Cesarean section were chosen as a control group. Balloons were filled to control hemorrhage during the procedure. The hemodynamic parameters including blood pressure and heart rate were monitored during the opera-tion. Surgical duration ,amount of blood loss ,amount of blood transfusion ,volume of infusion ,urine volume during the procedure,postoperative volume of blood loss within 24 hours,uterine hysterectomy rate and neonatal conditions were compared between the two groups. Results During the operation,the blood pressure and heart rate in hybrid group were more stable. The mean surgical duration was(72 ± 8)min,the intraoperative mean amount of blood loss was(620 ± 95)mL,the mean amount of blood transfusion was(550 ± 40)mL,the mean volume of infusion was(1850 ± 160)mL,the mean amount of blood loss in 24 h after the operation was(75 ± 9) mL in the hybrid group,which were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05 for all comparisons). No serious complications occurred in any of the two groups after the operation. There were no significant differences in neonatal conditions between the two groups. Conclusions One-stage hybrid technique has an obvious effect in the control of intraoperative bleeding in patients with pernicious placenta previa. It is worth popularizing in the hospital whose conditions are permitted.

Objective:To study the expression and significance of ADMA/NOS/NO/cGMP pathway in the maternal-fetal interface of patients with preeclampsia. Methods: 60 patients were selected and divided into severe preeclampsia group, mild preeclampsia group and gestational hypertensive group according to the disease condition, meanwhile 20 healthy pregnant women of singleton receiving cesarean section were chosen as control group. Levels of NO and cGMP in placenta of the four groups were detected and compared,and activities of total NOS in placenta were measured and compared. The expression of eNOS and iNOS in placental tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry SP method. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to detect the level of ADMA in HUVECs. Results:The levels of NO in placenta of severe and mild preclampsia groups were (7. 6±3. 6) and (11. 4±4. 3) μmol/g, which were statistically significantly lower than that in control group(P<0. 05). The levels of cGMP in placenta of severe and mild pre-clampsia groups were ( 3. 26 ± 0. 31 ) and ( 4. 53 ± 0. 42 ) pmol/g, which were aslo significantly lower than that in control group ( P<0. 05). In the four groups,the level of cGMP in placenta was positively correlated with the level of NO in placenta(r=0. 672). The activities of total NOS in placenta of severe and mild preeclampsia groups were (10. 4±3. 0)and (14. 8±1. 6)U/mg protein,which were statistically significantly lower than that in control group ( P<0. 05 ) . In placenta of the four groups, the activity of total NOS was positively correlated with the level of NO(r=0. 785). The expression of eNOS in placenta of severe and mild preeclampsia groups was statistically significantly lower than that in control group ( P<0. 05 ) , the expression of iNOS in severe preeclampsia group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0. 05). The levels of ADMA in HUVECs of severe preeclampsia group,mild pre-eclampsia group and gestational hypertensive group were statistically significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0. 05). The level of ADMA in HUVECs was negatively correlated with the level of NO in placenta of the four groups ( r=-0. 582 ) . Conclusion:ADMA/NOS/NO/cGMP pathway may play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

AIM: To evaluate the pulmonary function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in order to identify whether the lung is a target organ of chronic pathologic changes in diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Pulmonary ventilation function and diffusion capacity were studied in 107 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 61 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), urine albumin excretion rate (AER), fundus examination and nerve conduction velocity were included as parameters of glycemic control and diabetic microangiopathies. RESULTS: Pulmonary ventilation function was similar in type 2 diabetic group and the control. Compared with the control, carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) and DLCO corrected by alveolar volume (DLCO/VA) were significantly lower in type 2 diabetic group (P<0.05). DLCO and DLCO/VA were inversely correlated with microangiopathy score (r: -0.291, -0.324, respectively, P<0.01). Furthermore, DLCO/VA was negatively correlated with age and duration of diabetes mellitus (r: -0.269, -0.236, respectively, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary ventilation function is normal in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but their diffusion capacity is impaired. It suggests that the lung may also be the target organ of the chronic pathologic changes of diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVETo describe a hospital outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and summarize its clinical features and therapeutic approaches.

METHODSThe outbreak started with a SARS patient from the community, and a total of 96 people (76 women and 20 men, mean age (29.5 +/- 10.3) years, 93.8% of whom were health care workers) who had exposure to this source patient became infected in a short time. Clinical data in this cohort were collected prospectively as they were identified.

RESULTS(1) The incubation period ranged from 1 to 20 (mean: 5.9 +/- 3.5) days. The duration of hospitalization was (17.2 +/- 8.0) days. (2) The initial temperature was (38.3 +/- 0.6) degrees C, while the highest was (39.2 +/- 0.6) degrees C (P < 0.001), with fever duration of (9.0 +/- 4.2) days. (3) Other most common symptoms included fatigue (93.8%), cough (85.4%), mild sputum production (66.7%), chills (55.2%), headache (39.6%), general malaise (35.4%) and myalgia (21.9%). (4) The radiographic changes were predominantly bilateral in the middle or lower lung zones. The number of affected lung fields was 1.2 +/- 0.8 on presentation, which increased to 2.9 +/- 1.4 after admission (P < 0.001). The interval from the beginning of fever to the onset of abnormal chest radiographs was (3.5 +/- 2.3) days, which increased in size, extent, and severity to the maximum (6.7 +/- 3.5) days later. The time before the lung opacities were basically absorbed was (14.9 +/- 7.8) days. (5) Leukopenia was observed in 67.7% of this cohort. The time between the onset of fever and leukopenia was (4.4 +/- 2.3) days, with the lowest white blood cell count of (2.80 +/- 0.72) x 10(9)/L. (6) The lowest arterial oxygen saturation was (94.8 +/- 3.1)% with supplementary oxygen. (7) Antibiotical therapies included tetracyclines (91.0%), aminoglycosides (83.3%), quinolones (79.2%); 18.8% of the patients received a combination of tetracyclines and aminoglycosides, while 11.5% received a combination of tetracyclines and quinolones, and 63.5% received a combination of tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and quinolones. Vancomycin was used in 13.5% of the patients. (8) 68.8% of the patients were treated with methylprednisolones for a mean interval of (4.9 +/- 2.4) days. The initial dose was (67.3 +/- 28.2) mg/d and the maximal dose was (82.4 +/- 30.5) mg/d. (9) Human gamma-globulin, interferon-alpha, antiviral drugs (oral ribavirin or oseltamivir) were used respectively in 68.6%, 46.9% and 92.7% of the patients. (10) Ninety-five patients (99.0%) had a complete clinical recovery, and only 1 patient (1.0%) died.

CONCLUSIONSSARS appears to be quickly infectious and potentially lethal among health care workers, characterized by acute onset and rapid progression, and mostly bilateral lung involvement on chest radiographs. Proper administration of glucocorticosteroids seems to be of some benefits. Antibiotics, human gamma-globulin, interferon-alpha, and antiviral drugs, although empirically, might be useful to shorten the clinical course.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross Infection ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo identify valid measures for preventing outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) among protected healthcare workers in isolation units.

METHODSArchitectural factors, admitted SARS cases and infection of healthcare workers in different isolation wards between January 30 and March 30, 2003 were analyzed.

RESULTSFour types of isolation wards were analyzed, including the ward where the thirty-first bed was located on the twelfth floor, the laminar flow ward in the Intensive Care Unit where the tenth bed was located on the fifteenth floor, the ward where the twenty-seventh bed was located on the thirteenth floor of the Lingnan Building, and thirty wards on the fourteenth to eighteenth floors of the Zhongshan Building. The ratios (m(2)/m(3)) of the area of the ventilation windows to the volume of the rooms were 0, 0, 1:95 and 1:40, respectively. Numbers of SARS cases in the wards mentioned above were 1, 1, 1 and 96, respectively. Total times of hospitalization were 43, 168, 110 and 1272 hours, respectively. The infection rates of the healthcare workers in the areas mentioned above were 73.2%, 32.1%, 27.5% and 1.7%, respectively. The difference in the infection rates was of statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSIsolating SARS cases in wards with good ventilation could reduce the viral load of the ward and might be the key to preventing outbreaks of SARS among healthcare workers along with strict personal protection measures in isolation units.

Adult ; Disease Outbreaks ; prevention & control ; Facility Design and Construction ; Female ; Hospital Units ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Isolation ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; prevention & control ; Ventilation

OBJECTIVETo explore digestive system manifestations in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODThe clinical data of 96 cases with SARS admitted into our hospital from February 6, 2003 to March 28, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 96 cases, 26 cases (27%) had diarrhea, 17 (18%) had nausea, 6 (6%) had vomiting, 16 (17%) had bellyache, and 8 (8%) had ALT elevation.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with SARS may have digestive system manifestations; diarrhea is the most common symptom.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Diarrhea ; etiology ; Digestive System Diseases ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; complications