Objective To investigate the relationship of serum levels of C-reactve protein (CRP) with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Method Thirty-six patients with DCM were recruited as DCM group and thirty healthy people as the control. Serum levels of CRP in all subjects were determined by immunoturbidimetry. Results Compared with control group, the serum levels of CRP in patients with DCM were singnificantly increased by about 3.7 folds[(6.95?1.37)mg/dL vs.(1.89?0.38) mg/dL, P

Objective To compare medical students' learning curve between Macintosh laryngoscope and optical laryngoscope in endotracheal intubation and to decide which one is more suitable for novice personnel.Methods Totally 26 interns after being trained by experienced anesthesiologists were enrolled in this study.They performed intubation on 6 patients by using both Macintosh laryngoscope and optical laryngoscope ( each laryngoscope for 3 patients) under the supervision of experienced anesthesiologists.The sequence of laryngoscope was determined by computer-generated random number list.Results Totally 149 patients who were ready to receive surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this randomized crossover controlled study.Duration of intubation was significantly shorter in Airtraq group (78 -± 33 ) s than in Macintosh group (114 ± 32) s,P ＜ 0.001.Intubation success rate was significantly higher in Airtraq group than in Macintosh group ( 87.8％ vs.66.7％,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions With the advantages of rapid learning curve,higher intubation success rate and shorter intubation duration,Airtraq laryngoscope is easier to master for novice personnel.

Objective To discuss the effect of azithromycin on the airway inflammation in children at high risk for asthma by detecting the serum concentration change of eosinophil cationic protein(ECP), intedeukin-8(IL-8) and nitrogen oxide(NO), and also to explore the effect of azithromycin on secondary prevention of asthma. Methods Two hundred and twenty three cases of primary asthmatic attack with atopy (eczema, family asthmatic history) were collected and divided into four groups(group A, B,C,D) after asthmatic symptoms relief, group A was taken orally with azithromycin(5mg/kg Biw), group B was inhaled budesonide(0.5mg Bid), group C was taken orally with singulair (4mg qN),and group D was only given with symptomatic treatment. The vein blood was sampled on the first day in hospital, before and after medication respectively when treatment of three months was completed. Serum concentration of ECP and IL-8 was obtained by ELISA methods, and NO was measured by nitric acid enzyme reduction method. Clinic service and telephone follow-up was taken for one year. Results After three monthes intervention, there was significant difference in the serum concentration of ECP, IL-8 and NO at group A, B, C compared with group D( P<0.01 ). There was no significant difference in decrease of ECP and NO between group A and B( P > 0.05), but decrease of ECP and NO in group C was significant difference compared with group A( P<0.01). The serum concentration of IL-8 in each group was obviously decreased especially in group A, and difference was obvious between group A and group B,C( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the cases of asthma recurrence within three months and asthmatic recurrence within one year between group A and group B, group C and group D respectively. Conchlsions (1)The medication of azithromycin might result to decrease the serum concentration of ECP and NO, especially for IL-8 in children at high risk for asthma. (2)The effects of azithromycin on change of ECP and NO in children at high risk for asthma were similar to budesonide, but different with montelukast, while the inhabitant effects of IL-8 were different with inhaled steroid hormone and leukotriene receptor obviously. (3)There was some valid contribution of azithromycin actting on the secondary prevention of asthma in our investigation.

Objective To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in the diagnosis of vascular complications of transplanted kidneys.Methods Twelve patients with vascular abnormalities after renal transplantation were observed and analyzed using CEUS, and the diagnosis of all cases was confirmed by means of operation,pathology or angiography.Results Five patients with renal artery stenosis,2 patients with renal artery thrombosis,3 patients with pseudoaneurysm, 1 patient with pseudophlebangioma, and 1 patient with intrarenal extensive microthrombus were found.The coincidence of CEUS was 100%.Conclusions CEUS is a new method with the characteristics of non-nephrotoxic damage to kidney and comparable with angiography in terms of dynamic imaging.

Objective To study the effect of ATP sensitive potassium channel(KATP)opener on neuronal apoptosis and the expression of caspase-8 mRNA and protein in rats following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.Methods 200 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group,control group,KATP opener precondition group(KATP opener group)and KATP opener and blocker precondition group(KATP blocker group).The middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion models were established by using the intraluminal suture occlusion method.Neuronal apoptosis were detected by TUNEL staining,the expression of caspase-8 mRNA and protein were detected by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR methods.Results(1)The numbers of apoptotic cells in KATP opener group at 12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion were significantly less than those in control group and KATP blocker group(P

Objective To observe the effects of mild hypothermia hemofiltration on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracranial pressures (ICP) in patients with severe brain injury. Methods 65 patients with severe brain injuries were divided into control group (n=30) and observation group (n=35). The control group accepted the routine treatment only while the observation group accepted mild hypothermia hemofiltration additionally. CBF was detected by Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and ICP was monitored by ICP monitor. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was assessed every day. Results 5 d after treatment, the scores of GCS were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05) as well as the CBF (P<0.05), but the ICP was in the observation group significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion Compared with the traditional mild hypothermia, mild hypothermia hemofiltration can improve hemodynamic changes caused by severe brain injury, reduce ICP and improve the outcomes.

Objective To explore whether the glomerular podocytes can be damaged by aristolochic acid. Methods Thirty-two male SD rats were equally divided into the following 2 groups:model group in which the rats received the extract of Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom (AmK) by gavage; control group only received tap water by gavage.24 h urinary protein excretion was measured at the end of the 1st and 4th week,and SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis was performed to detect the protein in urine.At the end of the 4th week,all the rats were sacrificed and the glomeruli were isolated by laser capture microdissection technique.The mRNA expression of nephrin,podocin,CDA2P,podocalyxin and podoplanin in isolated glomeruli was determined by RT-PCR,and the average width of glomerular foot process was measured by electron microscopy and image analysis. Results At the end of the 4th week,24 h urinary protein excretion in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P＜0.01) and the urinary albumin content in model group was also obviously increased.The average width of glomerular foot process in the model group was significantly larger than that in control group (P＜0.01).The mRNA expressions of nephrin,podocin,CDA2P,podocalyxin and podoplanin in glomeruli were significantly down-regulated in the model group compared with the control group,which decreased by 34％,62％,56％,50％(P＜0.01) and 27％ (P＜0.05),respectively. Conclusions Aristolochic acid can damage the glomerular podocytes,resulting in the down-regulation of nephrin,podocin,CD2AP,podoplanin and podocalyxin mRNA expression, the segmental widening of foot process, and increased urinary protein excretion.

Objective To evaluate the value of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonic imaging of vascular volume in assessing postoperative acute rejection(AR) of renal transplant patients. Methods Color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI) and 3D vascular volumetric parameters were collected and analyzed in 30 cases with stable renal function (control group) and 13 cases with AR of kidney transplantation (AR group). The diagnostic performances of each ultrasonic parameter were compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results The parameters of resistance index(RI) and pulsatility index(PI) in AR group were significantly higher than those in control group( P <0.005 and P <0. 05, respectively). Analysis of the areas under ROC curve showed that the area under VFI curve was the largest;no significant difference( P > 0. 05) was found compared the area under VFI curve to those areas under VI,FI and MG curves;Comparing the area under VFI curve to those under RI, V and PI,there were significant differences( P <0. 05). Taking VFI≤18. 78% as the critical value, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of AR of transplanted kidneys were 70. 0% and 93. 3% ,and the positive and negative predictive values were 60. 8% and 93. 4%, respectively. Conclusions The sensitivity and specifity of 3D vascular volumetric imaging parameter VFI in the diagnosis of transplanted kidneys with AR were higher than those of blood flow parameters RI and PL VFI with the optimal critical value of ≤18. 78% might be a useful index for the early diagnosis of transplanted kidneys with AR.

Objective To observe the effect of cluster needling at scalp acupoints on cognitive function in Alzheimer disease (AD), and to elucidate its mechanism. Method Seventy eligible patients with cognitive impairment were randomized into two groups by their admission number. The treatment group was intervened by cluster needling at scalp acupoints plus oral administration of Fluoxetine hydrochloride, while the control group was by ordinary acupuncture. Two treatment courses later, the two groups were observed and compared in therapeutic efficacy and Activities of Daily living (ADL). Result There was a significant difference in comparing the total effective rate between the two groups (P＜0.05), the ADL scores dropped significantly in both groups after intervention (P＜0.01), and the decrease in the treatment group was statistically more significant (P＜0.01). Conclusion Cluster needling at scalp acupoints can effectively improve cognitive impairment in AD patients, and can promote the quality of life.

Objective: To explore relationship between sulfonylurea receptor gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese subjects. Methods: Polymorphism of exon 16-3T→C in SUR gene 1 in 155 type 2 diabetic subjects and 132 controls were assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: Frequency of “C” allele and “CC” homozygous phenotype in type 2 diabetic subjects was higher than that in control group. Conclusion:Allele “C” stands for hereditary susceptibility to diabetes.