Objective To identify risk factors associated with the severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) in-duced by crush syndrome and whether the patient required hemodialysis (HD). Method A retrospective study was designed. Within 19 days after the Chinese Wenchuan earthquake (May 12, 2008), 63 victims (33 men, 30women) of 2139 cases were hospitalized at Mianyang Central Hospital (Siehuau, China) because of crush syn-drome caused by crush injuries. The patients with renal dysfimcfion before the earthquake were excluded. Totally 63 patients with AKI associated with crush syndrome were included in this study and were divided into two groups: group 1, 25 patients, requiring HD (when urine volume <250 mL/d;serum potassium> 6 mmol/L) ; and group 2, 38 patients, without HD. The following data were collected retrospectively for all patients: (1) epidemiological parameters: age, gender, race, time under the rubble, liquid treatmem before being rescued; (2) clinical param-eters: blood pressure, body area crushed, amputation, fasciotomy, blood transfusion, quantity of fluid infusion, urine output in the first 24 hours; (3) initial laboratory data: complete blood count, urine analysis, serum chem-istry, arterial blood gas analysis. Comparisons between the two groups were made using SPSS 10.0. The quantita-tive data and categorical data were analyzed using t tests and χ2 tests, respectively. P -values < 0.05 were consid-ered to indicate significant differences. The significant variables were entered into logistic regression models to de-termine the risk factors for the severity of AK1 in patients with crush syndrome and whether the patient required HD. Results Four significant risk factors with P -values < 0.05 were identified: fasciotomy, cystatin C (Cys C)level, myoglobin (MB) level and lactic acidosis. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 8.641 (3.027～76.479), 6.956 (3.027～76.479), 5.379 (3.027～76.479) and 4.833 (2.569～32.764), respectively. Conclusions In addition to urine output and potassium levels, we found that four risk factors, namely faseiotomy, Cys C and MB levels, and lactic acidosis, were significanfly associated with the severity of AKI and whether the patient required hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVETo provide the basic knowledge of wrist joint for diagnosing of these morphological change in pathological condition by measuring the posteroanterior X-ray films of different types of distal radius fracture by AO classification.

METHODSEleven radiographic indexes were measured including following 7 new parameters of 83 cases of distal radius fracture: ulnar styloid length (USL), ulnar head length (UHL), ulnar head diameter (UHD), maximal distal radius width (MDRW), proximal distal radius width (PDRW), sigmoid notch length (SNL) and sigmoid notch width (SNW) by Pacs system in standard X-ray films. The indexes were defined by the ratio of these parameters to the length of the third metacarpal. Statistical significance of indexes and correlations of parameters were analyzed by SPSS 16.0.

RESULTSIt was found that indexes of 11 parameters and 27 pairs of indexes had significantly different. Compared the indexes of 14 groups with normal group existed statistical significance, 62 pairs value of 11 parameters had correlations.

CONCLUSIONThe study provides additional radiographic index that will be helpful to more careful diagnosis and treatment of the distal radius fractures and their associated injuries such as ulnar wrist injuries or carpal instability.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Radius ; diagnostic imaging ; Radius Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; Wrist Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo develop a tight tetracycline-controlled HCV-C double transgenic mouse model.

METHODSBy crossbreeding of ApoE-rtTA-tTS transgenic mice with TRE-HCV-C transgenic mice, the double transgenic mice were produced in the F1 generation. The presence of HCV-C and tTS gene in the F1 generation was confirmed by PCR, followed by further identification and quantification of the transgene using Southern blot hybridization. The expression of HCV-C in the liver of the mouse model was detected immunohistochemically.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONTwo transgenic mice were obtained, which contained ApoE-rtTA-tTS and TRE-HCV-C genes in the genome. Five founders contained HCV-C gene as confirmed by PCR and Southern blot hybridization. The tight tetracycline-controlled system may facilitate further study of HCV-C gene expression and gene therapy of hepatic cellular carcinoma.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Blotting, Southern ; Breeding ; Crosses, Genetic ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; drug effects ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tetracycline ; pharmacology ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Viral Core Proteins ; genetics

Objective To assess the screening efficacy of a novel esophageal cell collector and esophageal exfoliated cell cytology examination for esophageal cancer and investigate risk factors associated with cytological examination results in the Han and Mongolian ethnic groups.Methods ①A total of 1196 high-risk individuals with esophageal cancer were selected for treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College.Esophageal cells were collected,and endoscopic examination and mucosal biopsy of the esophagus were performed.The pathological examination of the digestive tract endoscopic biopsy tissue was used as the gold standard to verify the diagnostic efficacy of cytological examination.① In this study,9256 Han and 572 Mongolian individuals who participated in esophageal cancer screening in the Baotou area were selected as the research subjects.General information,dietary habits,lifestyle habits,and other information of the subjects were collected through a questionnaire survey.Esophageal cells were collected using a new type of esophageal cell collector,and logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for positive cytology in Han and Mongolian populations.Results ① The novel esophageal cell collector and esophageal exfoliated cell cytology examination demonstrated excellent screening capabilities for esophageal cancer,with sensitivity(92.86％),specificity(99.58％),positive predictive value(PPV)of 72.22％,negative predictive value(NPV)of 99.92％,positive likelihood ratio(PLR)of 221.10,negative likelihood ratio(NLR)of 0.07,Youden index of 0.92,and an area under the ROC curve of 0.961(0.923-1.0).The optimal cutoff value was 2.50,yielding a sensitivity of 92.90％and specificity of 88.20％.②The cytological positivity rate among the Mongolian population(2.27％)was higher than that among the Han population(1.12％).The proportion of alcohol drinkers,those with a preference for hot and spicy foods,and those consuming pickled foods was higher in the Mongolian population than in the Han population.Logistic regression analysis revealed risk factors for the Han population:gender(OR=0.381,95％CI:0.256-0.568),age(OR=1.091,95％CI:1.067-1.116),alcohol consumption(OR=1.693,95％CI:1.150-2.492),and smoking(OR=2.127,95％CI:1.439-3.143).Risk factors for the Mongolian population were gender(OR=0.174,95％CI:0.047-0.638),age(OR=1.124,95％CI:1.052-1.200),and alcohol consumption(OR=3.945,95％CI:1.074-14.489).Conclusion ①The novel type of esophageal cell collector-esophageal exfoliative cytology examination has good screening efficacy for esophageal cancer.② Gender,age,alcohol consumption,and hot eating habits are the main risk factors for positive cytological diagnosis in the Mongolian population,while gender,age,alcohol consumption,and smoking are the main risk factors for positive cytological diagnosis in the Han population.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether cryohepatectomy is potentially beneficial in reducing the recurrence and prolonging survival for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSThe study included 84 patients who underwent cryohepatectomy, cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) followed by the resection of the frozen tumor by conventional technique, for HCC and were closely follow-up after surgery. Recurrence and survival rates were calculated by the life-table method.

RESULTSThe postoperative course of cryohepatectomy in all of the 84 patients was uneventful, there being no operative mortality or severe complications. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates after cryohepatectomy were 98.7%, 83.9% and 64.0%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence rates after cryohepatectomy were 15.1%, 30.1% and 39.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSCryohepatectomy for HCC is a safe procedure and may be potentially beneficial in reducing recurrence and prolonging survival. More time is needed to further define whether this procedure will improve long-term survival as compared with conventional resection.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; surgery ; Cryosurgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Survival Rate

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo describe and compare the hepatitis virus infection in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving surgical operation in China and Japan.

METHODSInformation of surgical HCC patients was retrieved from the medical records. The concerned characteristics of the HCC cases from two countries were described and compared.

RESULTSA total of 425 diagnosed cases that underwent surgical resection for HCC in China were investigated, and the corresponding cases in Japan were 247. The proportion of the hepatitis virus infection was 75.53% in patients with HCC from China. Within the infection cases, 91.28% were positive for HBsAg but negative for anti-HCV. The proportion was 82.59% in patients with HCC from Japan. Within the infection cases, 77.94% were positive for anti-HCV but negative for HBsAg. The proportion of hepatocirrhosis in the hepatitis virus infection patients with HCC were 89.10% and 68.14% in China and Japan, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe hepatitis B virus infection showed be a main cause of HCC in China, however, the HCC in Japan be mostly related to hepatitis C virus infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; epidemiology ; surgery ; virology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Japan ; epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; surgery ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase gene (LCAT) 608C/T polymorphism in Chinese Han population and the relationship of the polymorphism association with the occurrence of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction.

METHODSThe lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase gene 608C/T polymorphism is identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 150 patients with ACI and 122 healthy controls matching age and sex.

RESULTSThe distribution of LCAT 608C/T gene polymorphism was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The CT genotype frequency (14.0%) and T allele frequency (7.0%) in ACI group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in 608CC subgroups were significantly higher than those in 608CT subgroups both in ACI group and in control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe LCAT 608C/T polymorphism is possibly a predisposing factor in ACI happening of Chinese Han population. T allele frequency is possibly concerned with the metabolism of HDL-C.

Aged ; Alleles ; Cerebral Infarction ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; genetics

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have shown that T helper type-2 (Th2) cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma.

METHODSTwenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells was associated with the over-expression of Th2 response.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the characteristics of MR imaging of hepatic lesions using measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of hepatic lesions on diffusion weighted imaging.

METHODSMR diffusion weighted images were obtained in patients with 97 hepatic lesions (22 hepatocellular carcinomas, 21 metastatic tumors, 28 hemangiomas, 26 cysts). ADC values were evaluated with different sequences. The ADC ratio of lesion/liver was estimated.

RESULTSAverage ADC values of hepatic lesions were as follows: carcinomas (0.91 +/- 0.07) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, metastatic tumors (1.13 +/- 0.27) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, cavernous hemangiomas (1.94 +/- 0.37) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, cysts (3.26 +/- 0.30) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s. The ADC ratio of lesion/liver was significantly different between primary carcinomas and metastatic tumors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQuantitative study in hepatic lesions using ADC values and the ADC ratio of lesion/liver, would improve the accuracy in diagnosing hepatic lesions.

Cysts ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging