OBJECTIVE To evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin(PCT) levels for differentiating Gram-positive and-negative bacteria infected critically ill patients in intensive care unit(ICU). METHODS Serum PCT levels were measured in 80 patients with sepsis and severe sepsis in ICU.Of the 80 patients,40 were infected with Gram-positive bacteria and 40 were infected with Gram-negative bacteria.Another 40 patients with fungi or viruses infection or non-infection from ICU were measured in parallel as control. RESULTS Serum levels of PCT in patients with Gram-negative bacteria were significantly higher than in those with Gram-positive bacteria and control ones(18.5?5.8ng/ml vs 3.9?2.1ng/ml and 0.3?0.2 ng/ml,respectively,P

OBJECTIVETo study the differences in the toxicity of vinegar-processed Kansui Radix on normal and cancerous ascites model rats.

METHODNormal and cancerous ascites model rats were taken as the research objects and orally administered with different doses of vinegar-processed Kansui Radix for 7 d. Pathological sections were prepared to observe the damages in liver, stomach, intestinal tissues in rats and detect the impacts on serum, liver, stomach and intestinal tissues and the oxidative damage index.

RESULTCompared with the blank group, all of normal administration groups and model groups showed significant damages in liver, stomach and intestinal tissues. Compared with the model groups, all of normal administration groups revealed notable alleviation in damages. Compared with the blank group, the model groups showed significant increases in AST, ALT and MDA in serum and liver (P < 0.01) and a significant decrease in GSH in serum and liver, stomach, intestinal tissues (P < 0.01). Compared with the blank group, the results showed significant decreases in ALT, AST in serum and ALT in liver in model low, medium and high dose groups and AST activity in liver tissues in the normal high dose group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); significant decreases in GSH in serum and stomach tissues in normal low, medium and high dose groups and GSH content in liver and intestinal tissues in normal medium and high dose groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); notable rises in MDA in liver tissues in normal low, medium and high dose groups and MDA content in serum and stomach and intestinal tissues in normal medium and high dose groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with model groups, data revealed significant decreases in ALT, AST in serum in model low, medium and high dose groups, AST in liver tissues of model medium and high dose groups and ALT activity in liver in the model high dose group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); significant increases in GSH content in serum and stomach tissues of model low, medium and high dose groups, GSH in liver tissues in model medium and high dose groups and GSH in intestinal tissues in the high dose groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and notable declines in MDA content in serum in model low, medium and high dose groups, MDA in liver tissues of model medium and high dose groups and MDA in stomach and intestinal tissues the high dose group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAccording to the study, vinegar-processed Kansui Radix showed a significant lower toxicity liver, stomach, and intestines of cancerous ascites model rats, which provided a basis for clinical safe application of vinegar-processed Kansui Radix based on symptom-based prescription theory.

Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Intestines ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the relation of contrast-enhanced ultrasound ( CEUS ) characteristics and microvessel density ( MVD ) in the breast cancer .Methods From October 2010 to February 2012, 45 cases of patients with breast cancer were studied in Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital , Affiliated to Qingdao University Medical College .All lesions were examined by CEUS before surgery .The blood perfusion parameters such as rising time (RT),peak intensity(PI),time to peak(TTP),wash-in slope (WIS) and mean transit time ( MTT) were obtained by time-intensity curve ( TIC).Immunohistochemical staining for anti-factor CD34 was performed on surgery specimen and the MVD was evaluated .The CEUS characteristics and blood perfusion parameters between different MVD groups of breast cancer were compared.Results In 45 cases of breast cancer,mean MVD was(47.6 ±14.2)/high power field(HPD). Twenty-one cases(46.7%) were classified as high MVD group(MVD>48/HPD) and 24 cases(53.3%) were classified as lower MVD group ( MVD≤48/HPD) .Besides two cases without contrast agent perfusion in CEUS imaging, blood perfusion was observed in 43 cases (95.6%).Heterogeneous enhancement was observed in 25 cases(55.6%).Local blood perfusion defect was observed in 27 cases(60.0%).Irregular shape was observed in 37 cases(82.2%).Centripetal enhancement was observed in 25 cases(55.6%). Penetrating surrounding vessels was observed in 32 cases(71.1%).Poorly-defined margin was observed in 34 cases(75.6%).Compared with the surrounding normal breast tissue ,RT and TTP of center region of neoplasms was shorter[(9.3 ±3.3)s vs (11.1 ±3.7)s and (25.3 ±5.9)s vs (27.5 ±6.4)s],PI was higher[(12.1 ±4.6)dB vs (9.2 ±2.8)dB],WIS was higher(1.0 ±0.4 vs 0.8 ±0.3) and differences were significant(t =-3.001, -4.785,6.987 and 5.438,all P <0.05).Compared with center region of neoplasms,TTP of periphery region of neoplasms was shorter [(22.2 ±6.0)s vs (25.3 ±5.9)s],PI was higher[(15.4 ±5.1)dB vs (12.1 ±4.6)dB],WIS was larger(1.3 ±0.5 vs 1.0 ±0.4) and differences were significant(t=-2.839,3.194 and 3.151,all P<0.05).The detection rate of blood perfusion defect and heterogeneous enhancement was higher in the high-MVD group than in the low-MVD group(χ2 =4.0179 and 7.2024,both P <0.05).While the enhancement shape,margin and penetrating vessels showed no statistical difference between the two groups .Breast neoplasms in the high-MVD group had higher PI than those in the low-MVD group[(18.2 ±5.6)dB vs (12.9 ±3.1)dB,t=-3.738,P<0.05].While the RT, TTP and WIS showed no statistical difference between the two groups ( t=-0.798,-0.760 and -0.378, all P>0.05).Conclusion CEUS characteristics of breast lesions were associated with MVD ,which may reflect the microvessel distributional characteristics of neoplasm and may be one of bases used to evaluate neoplasm angiogenesis .

To study the function of expelling water retention with drastic purgative of different polarities of Kansui Radix stir-baked with vinegar on the cancerous ascites model rats, the furosemide was taken as positive control drug, and the cancerous ascites model rats were respectively orally administered with different polarities of Kansui Radix stir-baked with vinegar for 7 d. The amount of urine and ascites, the level of urinary sodium, potassium, chloride ion and pH, and the content of PRL1, AII, ALD in serum were investigated. Compared with model groups, ethyl acetate extract group showed a decreasing trend in ascites; the amount of urine of showed a significant increase (P < 0.05); the level of urinary sodium, potassium, chloride ion (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), pH (P < 0.05), and the content of PRL1, AII, ALD in serum all showed a significant decrease (P < 0.01). The effects of petroleum ether extract and n-butanol extract were weaker than that of ethyl acetate extract. The water exact was the weakest. The results showed that ethyl acetate extract is the active part of Kansui Radix stir-baked with vinegar on the function of expelling water retention with drastic purgative on the cancerous ascites model rats, alleviating the water-electrolyte disorder and body fluid acid-base imbalance, regulating the renin angiotensin aldosterone system.
Animals ; Ascites ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cathartics ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Potassium ; urine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium ; urine ; Water ; metabolism

it was 4% (3/75). GP73-positive rate in HCC was higher than that of the normal liver tissues (χ2=73.60, P<0.05). sCLU-positive rate in HCC was also higher than that of the normal liver tissues (χ2=207.94, P<0.05). GP73 expression was positively correlated with sCLU expression in HCC (r=0.405, P<0.05). GP73 and sCLU were associated with clinicopathological features including tumor differentiation, TNM stage and vascular invasion (P<0.05); GP73 and sCLU had no correlation with the patient’s gender, age, HBsAg, cirrhosis, AFP value, portal vein thrombosis and tumor numbers (P>0.05). GP73 was associated with survival but not sCLU. Conclusion:GP73 and sCLU have higher positive rates in HCC and GP73 is positively correlated with sCLU. The expression of GP73 and sCLU are probably closely related with the invasion of HCC, which can help evaluate the prognosis of the patients.

Objective To evaluate the application value of X-ray,echocardiogram,pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy,EBCT,Magnetic resonance Pulmonary angiography in diagnosis of PTE.Methods Twenty-five consecutive patients clinically diagnosed of having PTE were examined from july 2003 through March 2004. Patients underwent X-ray chest plain film, echoeardiogram, electronic beam computed tomographie (EBCT)angiography,ventilation-perfusion (V-P)seintigraphy,Magnetic resonance Pulmonary angiography (MRPA)and puhnonary angiography according to a strict diagnostic protocol.Two of the independent readers reviewed the pulmonary angiography and record all of the lobe and segmental involved in PTE and compared with other image method.Results Pulmonary angiography:all of the patients success underwent the technique,the pulmonary artery branch with PTE was in 556 of 775 branches (71.7%). Chest radiography had hints of diagnosis in 12 of 25 patients.Nine patients diagnosed with echocardiogram. Right heart enlargement was in 21,and pulmonary hypertension in 18.V-P scintigraphy revealed 247 segmental involved with PTE of 500 (52.0% ),and the sensitivity was 64.66% compare with the pulmonary angiography.There were 523 pulmonary branches involved PTE with EBCT pulmonary angiograpy of 775 branches,and the sensitivity was 94.06%.MRPA: 8 of 10 patients succeed in the technique, 155 branches of 248 were detected with PTE(62.5% ),the sensitivity was 81.29%.Conclusions EBCT is a high sensitivity method in diagnosis of PTE.Chest radiography and echocardiogram are the first-line modality of PTE.V-P scintigrapby is the valid compensation in diagnosis subsegmental pulmonary artery with PTE when EBCT miss diagnosis.Gd-CE-MRPA may be the second-line modality in diagnosis of PTE.

Fermentation for Eicosapentaenoic Acid(EPA) production by Nitzschia laevis at various temperature between 10℃ and 30℃ was investigated and the dynamics characteristics during fermentation process were also analyzed.Based on the results,a varying temperature nursing method of two stage control strategy is proposed:During the first stage,which comprises the delay phase and the initial index phase,the temperature is maintained at 25℃;then the temperature is shifted to 20℃ and kept up till the end of the fermentation process.By this method,a EPA content of 6.0% and a yield of 291.60 mg/L have been gained.These are 24.07% and 18.81% higher than that of fixed temperature(25℃) fermentation,respectively.

ObjectiveTo determine the utility of the simple body weight support training apparatus used to improve ambulatory function in patients with hemiplegia or paraplegia.Methods38 cases with hemiplegia or paraplegia were randomly divided into control(C,n=10),regular body weight support treadmill training group(R,n=14),simple body weight support training group(S,n=14).All the patients received comprehensive rehabilitation for 6 months.Function Independence Measured(FIM),10 meters ambulatory velocity,Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA),Barthel Index(BI) were used to evaluate the effect of training.ResultsThe FIM scores and ambulatory velocity of the patients in group R and S improved significantly compared with that of group C.There was no difference of FIM scores and ambulatory velocity between group R and S.ConclusionThe effect of simple body weight support training on improving the ambulatory function is similar to regular body weight support treadmill.

Objective To evaluate the effects of rebuilding stove and health education on preventing coal-burning fluorosis and arsenic poisoning in Shaanxi in 2005.Methods According to "Scheme of Impmving Stove in Preventing Coal-burning Fluorosis and Arsenic Poisoning of Shaanxi in 2005",the initial meeting was convened,while liability contracts were signed,leading and technical guiding groups were established,professional training was carried out.On the basis of the epidemiologic data,stoves were improved in 7 chosen counties in Ankang and Hanzhong City where the health education in several modalities was carried out.The project was checked and accepted when the work was completed.Thirty children in fourth grade were randomly selected in one primary school of each county.Fifleen adults aged 16 years old were chosen randomly in each village in each country.They were asked to answer the questionnaire about the health knowledge.Results There were 955 322 stoves improved in 7 countries in Ankang and Hanzhong City accounting for rebuilding stove was 100%(95 322/95 314).The awareness rates of health knowledge were 88%(444/508)in the adults and 100%(210/210)in children.Conclusions The government mangement leadership,the cooperation between the related departments, the participation of residents and the assufance of fund are the essentials in long lasting control of endemic diseases.

Objective To explore the effects of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation in early life on hippocampus-dependent spatial reference learning and memory in rats. Methods Newborn SD rats were randomly assigned to experiment group (deprivation of forepaw sensorimotor function, n=53) and control group(n=55). Rats of postnatal day 13 (PN13) in experiment group were seleeted, and models of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation were established by microsurgical technique. Open field tests and Morris water maze tests were performed during the time periods of PN25(PN21-31), PN35 (PN31-39), PN45(PN41-50) and PN60(PN56-64) to evaluate the locomotor activity and spatial reference learning and memory, respectively. Results In open field tests, there was no significant difference in parameters of locomotor activity and exploratory behavior between the two groups (P>0.05). In Morris water maze tests, eontrol group performed significantly better than experiment group during training sessions and probe tests on PN25 and PN35 (P<0.05). While on PN45, although there was no significant difference between the two groups during training sessions, control group performed significantly better than experiment group during probe tests (P<0.05). Conclusion The deprivation of forepaw sensorimotor in early life has no signifieant effect on the locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of rats, but can impair the spatial reference learning and memory.