Objective To explore the change of serum zinc level of children with rotavirus(RV) enteritis and efficacy of zinc supplementation on children with rotaviral enteritis.Methods One thousand one hundred and eighty-three healthy children were enrolled in this study,who were divided into different groups,and the zinc levels of children in every different age group were detected.These levels were used as normal levels of children in Dongguan district.One hundred and forty-three diarrhea patients in this 2 years were enrolled.Confirmed dia-gnosis was depended on the RV test in patients′ stool.The children with diarrhea were randomly divided into zinc treatment group (n=72) and conventional therapy group (n=71).The serum zinc levels in RV enteritis was analyzed.The patients in conventional therapy group were received diarrhea conventional therapy inchuded smectite and fluid infusion and so on;in addition to diarrhea conventional therapy,zinc gluconate 20 mg/d (10 mg/d below 6 months of age) for successive 14 days were given the patientsin zinc treatment group.The different efficacy of the 2 groups and the changes of serum zinc in treatment group were analyzed.Results Compared with normal children,the ones suffering from RV enteritis had lower serum zinc level(P0.05).Conclusions The ones suffering from RV enteritis have lower serum zinc level.In addition to diarrhea conventional therapy,giving zinc treatment has better effect on enhancing curative effect of RV enteritis.On the other hand,the suggestion of zinc supplement made by WHO is also suitable for Chinese children.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of a single hydrogen-methane breath test (SHMBT) for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).Method:The current investigation was a cross-sectional study. Questionnaires and SHMBTs were administered to 162 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms (case group) and 69 healthy volunteers (control group). Differences in SHMBT results between the two groups were assessed,and cut-off values of CH 4 (methane) and H 2 (hydrogen) were analyzed via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Lastly,archived SHMBT data from 2 655 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms (validation set) were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the SHMBT with respect to SIBO. The Chi-square test,the Mann-Whitney U test,Spearman′s Rank correlation analysis,and the Z test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Based on the international recommended diagnostic criteria for SIBO,which are fasting CH 4 ≥10 ppm (parts per million) or H 2 ≥20 ppm,the SHMBT-positive rate in the case group was significantly higher than that of control group (35.2% vs. 21.7%, χ2=4.08, P=0.043). Levels of CH 4 and H 2 were higher in the case group than in the control group [CH 4: 3(2,7) vs. 3(1,3) ppm, H 2: 11(4,22) vs. 10(5,15) ppm],and the difference in CH 4 levels was statistically significant ( Z=6.22, P=0.001). ROC curves were generated based on whether the subjects had gastrointestinal symptoms. The areas under the ROC curves were 0.633 for CH 4 alone,0.531 for H 2 alone, and 0.620 for CH 4 combined with H 2. The cut-off values were fasting CH 4≥4 ppm,fasting H 2≥13 ppm,and fasting CH 4 ≥5 ppm (or CH 4≥4 ppm and H 2≥24 ppm),respectively. Measuring CH 4 alone and CH 4 combined with H 2 was effective for determining the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms ( P<0.05). When CH 4 alone or CH 4 combined with H 2 were used as diagnostic indicators of SIBO, the respective SHMBT-positive rates in the validation set were 34.2% and 30.4%. These rates did not significantly differ from the SIBO-positive rate of 32.0% obtained via the international recommended diagnostic criteria ( P>0.05). The specificity of CH 4 alone was 79.9%,and the accuracy of CH 4 alone was 68.8%. The specificity of CH 4 combined with H 2 was 85.0%,and the accuracy of CH 4 combined with H 2 was 71.7%. Conclusion:Rapid one-time determination of CH 4 and H 2 in exhaled breath may a viable diagnostic method for SIBO, and using CH 4 combined with H 2 ( i.e.,fasting CH 4≥5 ppm, or CH 4 ≥4 ppm and H 2 ≥24 ppm) as cutoff values may be feasible.

BACKGROUNDLocal failure of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy (RT) remains one of the major treatment failures. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and complications of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) with vagina carotica protection technique for local residual of NPC patients after the primary RT.

METHODSFrom August 2006 to August 2010, FSRT with vagina carotica protection technique was applied to 36 patients in our department, the patients aged between 13 and 76 years with a median of 41.3 years, 25 of them were male and 11 were female. According to 2002 Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Staging System, the stages before primary radiotherapy were: IIa 2, IIb 5, III 18, IVa 7, IVb 4. In the first course of radiotherapy, 9 patients received conventional RT, 27 patients received intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 20 out of the 36 patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The total dose in the first course of RT was 69.96 - 76.90 Gy (median, 72.58 Gy). The intervals between the primary RT and FSRT ranged from 12 to 147 days (median, 39.8 days). Target volumes ranged from 1.46 to 32.98 cm(3) (median, 14.94 cm(3)). The total FSRT doses were 10.0 - 24.0 Gy (median, 16.5 Gy) with 2.0 - 5.0 Gy per fraction. The most common regimen was 15 Gy in 5 fractions of 3 Gy, the irradiation dose to vagina carotica was less than 2 Gy per fraction.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 34 months (range, 12 - 59 months). The 3-year local control rate was 100%; the 3-year overall survival rate was 94.4%; the 3-year disease-free survival rate was 77.8%. In this study, we had one case of cranial nerve injury, two cases of temporal lobe necrosis, and no nasopharyngeal massive hemorrhage was observed.

CONCLUSIONFSRT with vagina carotica protection technique is an effective and safe RT regimen for local residual of NPC with reduction of radiation-related neurovascular lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Dose Fractionation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Young Adult

The population is commonly susceptible to the 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV), especially the elderly with comorbidities.Elderly patients infected with 2019-nCoV tend to have higher rates of severe illnesses and mortality.Immunoaging is an important cause of severe novel coronavirus pneumonia(NCP)in the elderly.Due to the combination of underlying diseases, elderly patients may exhibit a typical manifestations in clinical symptoms, supplementary examinations and pulmonary imaging, deserving particular attention.The general condition of the elderly should be considered during diagnosis and treatment.In addition to routine care and measures such as oxygen therapy, antiviral therapy and respiratory support, treatment of underlying disease, nutritional support, sputum expectoration, complication prevention and psychological support should also be considered for elderly patients.Based on literature review and expert panel discussion, we drafted the Key Points for the Prevention and Treatment of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in the elderly, aiming to provide help with the prevention and treatment of NCP and the reduction of harm to the elderly population.