70 bpm during scan),the proportion of segments that could not be assessed because of motion artifact were 0.1%(1/759),1.1%(7/649),2.5% (10/407),42.6%(103/242),and 75.5%(108/143),respectively.With conventional selective coronary angiography as the golden standard,the sensitivity,specificity,positive and negative prediction values to detect≥50% stenotic lesions in the assessable segments were 79.2%,96.0%,83.8%,and 94.6%,respectively.There was a significant correlation between the number of segments per patient not assessable because of motion artifact and heart rate during the scan(r=0.655,P=0.000).Conclusion MSCT is capable of achieving high accuracy for detection of coronary artery stenosis,and is a reliable technique to diagnose coronary artery disease.

Objective - To analyze the relationship between cobalt level of post shift urine and individual exposure level of ， cobalt and its compounds in cobalt exposed workers and to explore the feasibility of using urine cobalt as a biomarker. Methods - A total of 148 occupational cobalt exposed workers from a new material company were selected as the exposed ， - - group and 44 non occupational cobalt exposed workers from the company were selected as the control group using the typical sampling method. The exposure concentration of time weighted average of cobalt and its compounds in the workplace air of the - two groups was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as the individual exposure level. The cobalt levels - - of pre shift and post shift urinary samples of the two groups were detected by this method. The linear relationship between the - cobalt level of post shift urine and the individual exposure level of cobalt and its compounds in the air of the workplace was Results - 3 analyzed. The individual exposure level of cobalt and its compounds in the exposed group was 1.10 131.71 μg/m with （M） 3 the median of 12.23 μg/m. No cobalt and its compounds were detected in the workplace air in the control group. The cobalt - - levels of pre shift and post shift urines in exposed group were higher than those in the control group at the same time point （M： vs ， vs ， P ） - - 1.54 0.56 μg/L 8.77 0.83 μg/L all <0.01 . The cobalt level of post shift urine was higher than that in pre shift （M： vs ，P ）， urine in the exposed group 8.77 1.54 μg/L <0.01 and it was positively correlated with the individual exposure level （ ，P ） ， of cobalt and its compounds Spearman correlation coefficient=0.86 <0.01 . After common logarithm conversion the linear regression equation of the cobalt level of post shift urine and the common logarithm of individual exposure level of cobalt and （x） ：ŷ x（ ；F ， its compounds in the exposed group was as follows = −0.178 + 0.988 coefficient of determination=0.72 =374.75 P ；t ， P ） Conclusion - <0.01 = - 19.36 <0.01 . There was a linear correlation between cobalt level of post shift urine and occupational cobalt exposure level of cobalt exposed workers. Urinary cobalt can be used as a biomarker of occupational cobalt

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of timing of nasojejunal feeding tube placement and enteral nutrition on clinical outcomes in children with acute pancreatitis.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 31 children with acute pancreatitis, who received nasojejunal feeding between January 2008 and July 2013, to investigate the relationship of abdominal symptoms/signs and serum amylase level with the tolerability of catheterization and success rate of enteral nutrition. The treatment outcome and incidence of adverse reactions and complications were compared between the early enteral nutrition group ( ≤7 days from the onset of the disease) and late enteral nutrition group (>7 days from the onset of the disease).

RESULTSAbdominal symptoms/signs and serum amylase level were independent of the tolerable rate of catheterization and success rate of enteral nutrition. Compared with the late enteral nutrition group, the early enteral nutrition group had a shortened time to normal serum amylase level, significantly reduced incidence of systemic complications, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization expenses, and less weight gain. The tolerable rate of catheterization and success rate of enteral nutrition showed no significant difference between the two groups. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the increase in albumin level after enteral nutrition, duration of enteral nutrition, incidence of adverse reactions, and incidence of local complications.

CONCLUSIONSAbdominal symptoms/signs and serum amylase level cannot be used as a measure of whether nasojejunal feeding tube placement and enteral nutrition can be performed. Early enteral nutrition can better improve clinical outcomes in children with acute pancreatitis, and it is feasible.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVEThe pathological change of small bowel is difficult to examine because it is anatomically unique. The development of wireless capsule endoscopy provides an unique opportunity to visualize the entire small bowel in a minimally invasive manner. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and clinical value of wireless capsule endoscopy in children.

METHODSDuring the last 4 years (June, 2004-June, 2008), 46 times of wireless capsule endoscopy were performed in 43 patients with suspected small bowel disease, including obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 11), recurrent abdominal pain (n = 20), chronic diarrhea (n = 9), protein losing enteropathy (n = 2), recurrent vomiting (n = 1). Of the 43 cases, 28 were male and 15 were female, the age ranged from 6 to 18 years, 8 of these cases were < 10 years old. The weight of the patients ranged between 15 kg and 60 kg. The average time of capsule passing through the stomach and the small intestine, the tolerance to and complication of wireless capsule endoscopy in patients, the image quality of capsule endoscopy, and the cleanliness of small intestine after fasting for 8 hours were observed and recorded.

RESULTAll the patients could easily swallow the capsule and had good tolerance. The overall success rate was 94% (43/46). The median time of capsule passing through the stomach and small intestine was 73 min (range, 3 - 600 min) and 246 min (range, 73 - 413 min), respectively. The diagnostic yield of pathological change in small intestine was 90% (37/41), and the diagnostic accordance rate was 84% (31/37). Based on the wireless capsule endoscopy, diagnostic findings included Crohn's diseases (15), lymph follicular hyperplasia (4), nonspecific enteritis (4), vascular malformations (3), small bowel tumour (2), primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (2), gastrointestinal motility disorders (2), Meckel's diverticulum (1), angioma (1), small intestinal worm disease (1), duodenal ulcer (1), and polyposis syndromes (1). The capsule of 1 patient remained in the stomach. The cleanliness of small intestine after 8 hours fasting was good. And the capsule endoscopy can show high quality small intestine image.

CONCLUSIONWireless capsule endoscopy is a noninvasive, safe and useful tool for the investigation of the small intestine in children, especially for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and Crohn's disease.

Adolescent ; Capsule Endoscopy ; methods ; Child ; Crohn Disease ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; diagnosis ; Intestine, Small ; physiopathology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of placement of nasojejunal feeding tube and nasojejunal nutrition feeding in children with acute pancreatitis.

METHODTwenty-two patients (of whom 13 had severe acute pancreatitis and 9 acute mild pancreatitis) who needed nutritional intervention were selected. They were from Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery during the years 2009 - 2012, and they were at high nutritional risk after STONGkid nutrition risk screening. The average age of them was 5 - 15 years (9.1 years ± 2.8 years). Assisted by endoscopy, the nasojejunal feeding tube was placed in 22 of 24 patients (in 2 cases of recurrent pancreatitis the tubes were placed again after extubation). Besides the use of regular fasting, antacids, inhibitors of trypsin secretion, and anti-infective treatment, 23 cases of all children got nasojejunal nutrition treatment as well. The outcome measures included the success rate, complications of endoscope-assisted nasojejunal tube placement. The children's tolerance and nutrition indicators (weight, blood lymphocytes count, erythrocytes count, serum albumin, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen) were observed before and after enteral nutrition therapy.

RESULTMalnutrition evaluation was done 24 times before treatment among 22 patients, incidence of malnutrition was 33% in 22 cases. Placement of nasojejunal tube placement was attempted for a total of 24 times and was successful on first placement in 22 cases, in two cases the placement was successful on the second placement, so the success rate of the first attempt for placement was 92%. No significant complications were observed in any of the cases. Twenty-three of 24 cases were given standardized enteral nutrition (one case was not given enteral nutrition therapy but underwent ERCP due to obstructive jaundice). Twenty-two of 23 cases could tolerate enteral nutrition well, only 1 case was unable to tolerate enteral nutrition due to the pancreas schizophrenia, paralytic ileus. The treatment of jejunal feeding success rate was 96%. The feeding duration was 2 - 74 d (27.0 d ± 18.3 d). The adverse reactions include plugging of the tube in two cases, constipation in two cases, five cases had abdominal pain, diarrhea in 2 cases, vomiting in 2 cases and 1 case of jejunum retention. No case had nasopharynx ulcers, gastrointestinal perforation, gastrointestinal bleeding, re-feeding syndrome and infection etc. Blood erythrocytes count, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen were not significantly changed. Twenty of 23 cases were cured, 2 cases were improved and 1 case was unchanged.

CONCLUSIONEndoscope-assisted nasojejunal tube placement for children with acute pancreatitis is safe and feasible. Nasojejunal nutrition therapy is effective for acute pancreatitis patients who are at severe nutritional risk, especially for the improvement of the nutritional status of children.

Abdominal Pain ; etiology ; Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Enteral Nutrition ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Jejunum ; Male ; Malnutrition ; etiology ; therapy ; Pancreatitis ; therapy ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome ; Vomiting ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo survey the distribution of influenza A subtypes in external environment and investigate the infectious status of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in poultry-exposed population in Wuhan.

METHODSSeventy-eight external environmental samples (water, cage surface and fecal samples) were collected from 3 habitats of wild migratory birds and 5 urban live-poultry markets in 2010. In 13 avian influenza monitoring points, 249 serum samples were collected from people living around habitats of wild migratory birds or working in live poultry markets. Real-time RT-PCR method was adopted to detect influenza A virus from external environmental samples; and multiple RT-PCR method and specific H3, H5, H7 and H9 primers were then applied to analyze the subtypes of the positive samples. The levels of H5N1 antibody in poultry-exposed population were tested by horse hemagglutination inhibition test and two avian influenza inactivated antigens: A/Hubei/1/10 and A/Anhui/1/05.

RESULTSOf the 50 external environmental samples collected from live poultry markets, 17 samples were determined to be influenza A virus positive (positive rate 34.0%), including specific subtypes as follows: 4 samples of H5 single-positive subtype, 3 samples of H9 single-positive subtype, 4 samples of H3 and H5 mixed-positive subtype, 2 samples of H3 and H9 mixed-positive subtype, 2 samples of H5 and H9 mixed-positive subtype, 2 samples of H3, H5 and H9 mixed-positive subtype, but no H7 positive subtype was found. The 28 external environmental samples collected from habitats of wild migratory birds were all influenza A virus negative. Considering different types of external environmental samples, the influenza A virus positive rates in water, cage surface and fecal samples were 37.5% (6/16), 16.7% (5/30) and 18.8% (6/32), respectively. There were total 100 samples of serum whose A/Hubei/1/10 antigen inhibiting titers ≥ 40, accounting for 40.2%; while 36 samples of serum (14.5%) whose A/Anhui/1/05 antigen inhibiting titers ≥ 40 were found. The difference had statistical significance (χ(2) = 41.433, P < 0.05). Among the 249 serum samples collected from poultry-exposed population, 5 samples were H5N1 antibody positive against A/Hubei/1/10 antigen (inhibition titer ≥ 160), which came from 4 different live poultry markets, however, no positive serum sample against A/Anhui/1/05 antigen was found.

CONCLUSIONMultiple subtypes of avian influenza virus simultaneously prevailed in Wuhan urban poultry markets. Moreover, results from the distribution of avian influenza virus in external environment were consistent with the level of H5N1 antibody in poultry-exposed population.

Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Birds ; virology ; China ; Environment ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Occupational Exposure ; Poultry ; virology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of vinorelbine (N) and epirubicin (E) as the neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).

METHODSFrom September 2001 to December 2004, 158 patients with LABC were treated with NE chemotherapy before operation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy containing vinorelbine (N), 25 mg/m(2) (days 1 and 8) and epirubicin (E), 60 mg/m(2) (days 1) was administered every 3 weeks for three cycles before local treatment.

RESULTSResponse in the breast: the clinical objective response was 81.6% [23.4% (37/158) cCR and 58.2% (92/158) PR], 16.5% (26/158) SD and 1.9% (3/158) PD. Pathological complete response was found in 29 cases (18.3%). Eighteen cases (26.5%) who have positive FNA result in the axillary lymphnode before chemotherapy showed negative result in the surgery specimen. The most common toxicities were neutropenia, alopecia and nausea/vomiting. Neutropenia grade 3 - 4 was reported in 111 patients (70.3%) and there was no toxic deaths.

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of vinorelbine and epirubicin is a very active and well-tolerated regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the LABC.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Treatment Outcome ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo observe the anti-renal fibrosis effect of Paidu Baoshen Pill (PBP) on 5/6 nephrectomized rats and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSTotally 50 SD male healthy rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n = 10), the sham-operation group (n = 10), and the nephrectomy model group (n = 30) according to the proportion of 1:1:3. Rats in the sham-operation group had their renal capsule isolated without nephrectomy. Rats in the nephrectomy model group had their kidneys 5/6 nephrectomized. Then 24 h urine was collected and 24 h urinary protein (24 h UP) detected. Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatitine (SCr) were also tested. According to the SCr level 30 rats of the model group were further randomly divided into the model group, the PBP group, and the Niaoduqing Granule (NG) group, 10 in each group. Rats in the PBP group and the NG group were respectively administered with PBP (at the daily dose of 1.0 g/kg) and NG (at the daily dose of 3.33 g/kg) by gastrogavage (they were dissolved in distilled water). At the same time, 2 mL distilled water was administered by gastrogavage to rats in the normal control group, the sham-operation group, and the nephrectomy model group, once daily for 4 successive weeks. Mental conditions, activities, hair color, shape of stool, and the body weight were observed during administration. After 4 weeks, urine was collected to detect 24 h UP. Blood was sampled to detect SCr, BUN, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), type III procollagen (PC III), collagen type IV (Col IV), laminin (LN), and fibronectin (FN). After rats were killed, their left remnant renal tissues were collected for pathological examinations. The protein expression quantity of TGF-β1 and FN was detected by immunohistochemical method. mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and FN were detected using real time fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the above indices between the normal control group and the sham-operation group (P > 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, rats' general condition was poorer in the model group, their body weight grew slower, and 24 h UP increased; serum levels of BUN, SCr, TGF-β1, PC III, Col IV, LN, and FN increased; the residual renal pathological lesion was serious; expression levels of TGF-β1, TGF-β1, mRNA, FN, and FN mRNA increased in the renal tissue (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, rats' general condition was better, their body weight grew faster, 24 h UP reduced (P < 0.05), blood levels of BUN and SCr decreased significantly (P < 0.01), serum levels of TGF-β1, PC III, CoL IV, LN, and FN decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the residual renal pathological lesion was attenuated in the PBP group and the NG group; expression levels of TGF-β1, TGF-β1, mRNA, FN, and FN mRNA decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the NG group, blood levels of SCr and FN, and expression levels of FN and FN mRNA decreased more in the PBP group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPBP had the effect of anti-renal fibro- sis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Down-regulating expression levels of TGF-β1, and FN from gene transcription and protein translation levels might be one of its mechanisms.

Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Collagen Type IV ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fibronectins ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; Laminin ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of di-butyl phthalate (DBP) on the reproductive system of adolescent male rats.

METHODSSprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 5 weeks were assigned to receive corn oil (vehicle control) or DBP orally at 10, 100 and 500 mg/(kg x d) for 30 days. After the exposure, the testis, epididymis, liver and pituitary of the rats were weighted and their ratios to the body weight obtained. Histopathological changes of the testis and epididymis were examined by Hematoxylin-eosin staining, the levels of testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the serum were measured by radioimmunoassay, and the relative mRNA expressions of the steroidogenesis acute regulatory protein (StAR), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and scavenger receptor (SR) were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSDBP induced significant histopathological changes in the testicular tissue at 100 and 500 mg/(kg x d), and decreased the testicular and epididymal weights, inhibited the mRNA expressions of StAR and PCNA, reduced the levels of T and LH, and elevated the level of FSH at 500 mg/(kg x d). At the dose of 10 mg/(kg x d), DBP increased serum LH and FSH and the mRNA expression of P450scc. While the SR mRNA expression showed no significant changes in all the groups.

CONCLUSIONHigh level of DBP has apparent toxic effect on reproductive system of male rats. Low - dose DBP can increase the level of serum gonadotropin LH and affect the mRNA expression of P450scc in the testis.

Animals ; Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme ; metabolism ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Phosphoproteins ; metabolism ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Scavenger ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of ischemia postconditioning (IPC) on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and associated reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) signal transduction pathways changes in isolated mouse hearts.

METHODSLangendorff perfused C57/BL mouse hearts were divided to 6 groups: (1) control: 30 min global ischemia and 2 h reperfusion (I/R); (2) IPC with 3 episodes, IPC with 3 episodes of 10 s of ischemia and 10 s reperfusion after 30 min ischemia and before 2 h reperfusion; (3) IPC with 6 episodes, IPC with six episodes of 10 s of ischemia and 10 s reperfusion after 30 min ischemia and before 2 h reperfusion; (4) delayed IPC, IPC with 3 episodes of 10 s of ischemia and 10 s reperfusion after 30 min ischemia and at one minute after reperfusion; (5) IPC + ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (10(-5) mol/L for 15 min); (6) I/R + ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (10(-5) mol/L for 15 min). The effects of IPC on hemodynamics, coronary artery flow, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, myocardial SOD, MDA, phospho-protein kinase (P-ERK1/2) and phospho-protein kinase B (P-Akt) as well as myocardial infarction size were measured.

RESULTSIPC with 3 episodes and IPC with 6 episodes significantly and equally improved myocardial function, increased myocardial SOD, reduced CK and LDH release and myocardial infarction size compared with IR group (all P < 0.01) while these parameters were similar between I/R hearts and delayed IPC hearts. IPC significantly increased myocardial ERK1/2 phosphorylation, PD98059 inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and abolished the cardioprotective effects induced by IPC.

CONCLUSIONSIPC obviously attenuated I/R injury in isolated mouse hearts, the cardioprotection of IPC was not enhanced because of increasing of IPC episodes and disappeared in delayed IPC. The cardioprotective effects of IPC were mediated through ERK1/2-MAPK signal transduction pathway.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Myocardial Ischemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; therapy ; Signal Transduction