Objective To explore the correlation between the levels of nitrite/nitrate(NO2/NO3) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and pulmonary infection in mechanically ventilated patients.Methods The clinical data from ventilated patients in critical care units of Peking University People' s Hospital from November 2006 to August 2007 were collected and analyzed.The patients' clinical pulmonary index score (CPIS) were calculated.EBC of those patients were collected via endotracheal tube or tracheostomy cannula, and the concentrations of NO2/NO3 were assayed.The level of NO2/NO3 in different CPIS patients in 24 hours' ventilation,weaning proportion in 3 days and mortality in different NO2/NO3 level patients were compared.The correlation of the CPIS and level of NO2/NO3 were explored between survival and non-survival patients.Results A total of 76 patients were enroled.The NO2/NO3 levels in patients of CPIS≤3 ,CPIS 3-6 and CPIS >6 in 24 hours of ventilation were (23.31±5.79), (28.72±9.10) and (35.42±12.10) μmoL/L respectively, with significantly differences between each other (P < 0.01).The lower the patients' concentration of NO2/NO3 was, the earlier the weaning and the lower the mortality were.The NO2/NO3 levels on 4th and 7th day were detected in 24 survival patients and 23 non-survival patients.The difference of NO2/ NO3 levels between the survival patients and non-survival patients became significant on 7th day [(29.32±9.52) μmol/L vs.(37.22±12.03) μmol/L, P < 0.01].Linear correlation analysis showed that the NO2/ NO3 level was positively correlated with CPIS (r = 0.76, P < 0.01).Condusions The NO2/NO3 level of EBC in ventilated patients is positively correlated to the severity of pulmonary infection, thus may be used as a new predictor for weaning and prognosis.

Objective Better drying methods of Forsythia suspense leaves was studied to provide some basis for the development and utilization of Forsythia suspense leaves. Methods A RP-HPLC method was used on XTerraTMRP8 (3.9 mm?150 mm, 5 ?m) column with acetonitrile-0.1% acetic acid solution (12 : 88) as mobile phase for forsythoside. The detection wavelength of forsythoside was at 328 nm and detection temperature was 30 ℃. Results The contents of forsythoside was higher when dry, microwave drying, absorbent paper drying, steaming 2～10 min, cooking 2～10 min was used to deal with Forsythia suspense leaves. The contents of forsythoside was lower when dried, drying, infrared drying, vacuum drying was used to deal with Forsythia suspense leaves. Conclusion Steaming 2～10 min, cooking 2～ 10 min is more appropriate for drying of Forsythia suspense leaves, when factors of the contents of forsythoside, the cost and ease of operation were considerd.

65yrs, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, etc; of which 7 were independent risk factors associated with death (P

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical and radiological features of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSAnalysis of the clinical presentation, chest radiographs, course of disease and features of severe pneumonia in 45 SARS patients diagnosed at our hospital in Beijing between April 5 - 20, 2003. Also included is a summation of the clinical features of SARS.

RESULTS(1) SARS appears to have high infectivity; (2) the most common symptom is fever; (3) the count of leukocyte is normal or decreased; (4) most patients (35/45, 77.8%) had experienced a 24-hour fever prior to the abnormal chest X-ray changes which showed progression of pulmonary infiltrates within 48 hours in 71.1% (32/45) of the patients and, (5) the percentage of patients who developed severe pneumonia (24.4%) is higher than those who developed typical pneumonia.

CONCLUSIONSARS is a disease with high infectivity and has its own clinical and radiological features. Early recognition, prompt isolation, and appropriate therapy are the key to combat this infection.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy