Objective To evaluate the relationship between airway obstruction and peripheral arterial stiffness in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods Ninetyeight elderly patients with COPD were enrolled.The patients were divided into two groups according to forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) percentage of predicted (FEV1 ％):mild-moderate group (FEV1 ％ ≥ 50％,62 cases) and severe group (FEV1％ ＜ 50％,36 cases).The brachium-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV),body mass index (BMI),24 h average heart rate,blood level of lipid,fasting blood glucose,arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) level were compared between two groups.Results Compared with mild-moderate group,the BMI in sever group was lower:(22.9 ± 4.3) kg/m2 vs.(25.4 ± 3.3) kg/m2,24 h average heart rate was higher:(77.5 ± 12.8) times/rmin vs.(70.7 ± 9.5) times/min,PaO2 was lower:(71.7 ± 13.1) mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) vs.(84.5 ± 13.2) mmHg,and there were statistical differences (P ＜ 0.05).The baPWV in mild-moderate group was (18.9 ± 4.2) m/s,and in sever group was (21.8 ± 3.6) m/s,and there was statistical difference (P ＜ 0.05).The hs-CRP in miid-moderate group was (6.62 ± 4.57) mg/L,and in sever group was (3.38 ± 2.13) mg/L,and there was statistical difference (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions The morbidity of peripheral arterial stiffness is increased in elderly patients with COPD.Progression of peripheral arterial stiffness is related to the severity of airway obstruction.

Infectious disease has replaced methodology with the development of subject. Special topic combined with case teaching method is introduced into infectious disease. Practice has showed that,compared with traditional teaching method, special topic combined with case teaching method can arouse students' leaning interest, improve comprehensive analytical ability and innovate clinical performing skills.It is an effective clinical teaching method.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on renal morphology and renal function of rats with streptozotocin diabetes. METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, which were normal control group, untreated group and Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group. Diabetic nephropathy was induced in rats of the last two groups by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after unilateral nephrectomy. Then the rats in the normal control and untreated groups were fed with normal saline while those in the Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group were fed Salvia miltiorrhiza preparation for 8 weeks. The glomerular volume (VG), kidney-to-body weight ratio (KW/BW), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were observed. The expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), fibronectin (FN) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: UAER, Ccr, VG and KW/BW ratio were significantly higher in the untreated group than those in the normal control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in the untreated group were also significantly higher as compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.05). UAER, Ccr, VG, KW/BW ratio and the levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in the Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group were obviously lower than those in the untreated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Salvia miltiorrhiza can protect rats with streptozotocin diabetes from diabetic nephropathy by suppressing the over-expressions of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in renal cortex.

Objective To explore the value of improved CT perfusion in delineation of brain arteriovenous malformation(AVM) target for stereotactic radiosurgery.Methods 22 patients diagnosed with AVM by DSA were included in this study.14 cases of AVM were detected from initial symptoms of intracereb.ral hemorrhage,of which 4 cases were given immediate intracranial hematoma evacuation,then in 3 cases postoperative embolization was performed,and other 10 cases received conservative treatment including 3 cases treated by embolization.8 cases of AVM were detected from initial symptoms of epilepsy or headache,without surgery or embolization treatment.In all patients,the improved CT perfusion and MRA examinations were performed before treatment to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of different methods in AVM.Results The interference rates of hemorrhage and granulation tissue on MRA images were 27.3 ％ and 54.5 ％,respectively,while those on enhanced CT and improved CT perfusion images were 0 ％.The interference rate of embolization material on enhanced CT and improved CT perfusion images was 27.3％,while that on MRA images were 0％.The contrast-enhancement rates of MRA,CT and improved CT perfusion images were 4 5.5 ％,5 4.5 ％ and 7 2.7 ％,respectively.Conclusion Improved CT perfusion technique is helpful in delineation of brain AVM target for stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with AVM combined with intracerebral hemorrhage or postoperative patients.