0.05).Conclusions The serum concentrations of cortisol,GH,IGF-Ⅰ and IGFBP3 in children suffered from asthma have no obvious change before and after 24 months long-term inhaled corticosteroids.The height changes before and after therapy have no significant difference between observation group and control group with same age and gender.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnostic Errors ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ulnar Nerve ; injuries ; Ulnar Neuropathies ; diagnosis

Objective To determine the prevalence,trends and risk factors of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in Ningbo during 2007-2010,and to explore the efficient control strategy of drugresistant TB.Methods A cross-sectional study of regional anti-TB drug resistance was conducted in Ningbo.The registered and culture-positive TB patients were enrolled and drug sensitivity test was performed.The demographic and clinical information were collected from the national TB report system.Logistic regression model was used to determine the risk factors of drug resistance.Results Of 1613 enrolled TB patients,39.3％-48.3％ were resistant to any first-line anti-TB drug and 14.0％-19.9％ were multidrug resistant (MDR)-TB.The proportion of new cases resistant to any first-line anti-TB drug was 35.4 ％-42.1％ and MDR TB was 9.8％- 12.2 ％,which were both significantly lower than those of retreated patients (69.5％-72.7％ and 33.9％ - 54.5％,respectively).The multivariate Logistic regression model showed that anti-TB treatment history and migration were significantly associated with any drug resistance (OR=3.298,95 ％ CI 2.391 4.550and OR=0.771,95 ％CI 0.608 - 0.978,respectively) ; while age,treatment history and migration were also significantly associated with MDR-TB.Conclusions Drug-resistant TB prevalence showed a decrease trend in Ningbo,while the resistant rates in both new cases and retreated cases still remain at high levels. Improved case management,including directly observed treatment short-course and appropriate treatment regimens specifically for drug-resistant TB,should be developed to prevent further transmission and development of drug-resistant TB in this setting.

Objective To study the effects of different glucocorticasteroid(GCS) inhalation regimens for remissive children with asthma. Methods Three hundred and twenty - three patients with moderate asthma were enrolled on a 12 - week randomized parallel group remissive treatment after a 4 - week baseline treatment. During the baseline treatment terbutaline sulfate 250 ?g tid a day and bud esonide 200 ?g twice a day were given, and oral bronchodilators were used if necessary. The remissive treatment were composed of budesomde inhabit ion 100 ?g once a day (group A), 100 ?g twice a day(group B) and 200 ?g once a day(group 0). Patients subsequently returned to the clinic for 3 additional clinic visits (4,8 and 12 weeks) or telephone visits . On every clinic visit, the daytime and nocturnal time seventy score were recorded and spirometry was conducted in patients who were capable of performing the maneuver. Results Ultimately, 323 children were enrolled on the baseline treatment and 281 (87%) children achieved clinical remission. The rate of compliance decreased gradually during the remissive treatment, but in group B(P

OBJECTIVEAnimal studies have demonstrated a lipid-modulating effect of yun-cai tea. However, little is known about the lipid-lowering effect in humans.The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid lowering effects and safety of yun-cai tea in patients with elevated lipid levels in a human clinical trial.

METHODSThis was a 12-week, randomly assigned, parallel-group, double-blind, and placebo-controlled pilot clinical study. Sixty primary hyperlipidemia patients were included and randomly assigned to the yun-cai tea group (30 patients) and the placebo group (30 patients), for 8 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up. The primary endpoint was changes in plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) at 8 weeks. The secondary endpoints included total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG).

RESULTSOur results revealed no statistically signifificant differences in LDL-C and TC between the two groups. Despite the lack of a statistically signifificant difference in the level of TG between the two groups, a declining trend was noted. A signifificant reduction of TG was observed in the yun-cai tea group at week 8, compared to baseline (P=0.048). The incidence of stomach discomfort, gastroesophageal reflfl ux, diarrhea, and constipation was slightly higher in the yun-cai tea group. No other signifificant adverse events were found.

CONCLUSIONIt is unlikely that yun-cai tea used had a blood lipid reduction effect. Further larger scale clinical trials with a longer duration and larger dose are necessary.

Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Placebos

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of different compositions and concentrations of lyophilizing protectants on recovery of RBCs and hemoglobin (Hb) after rehydration of lyophilized RBCs. The RBC lyophilizing protectants composed of a series concentrations of PVP, trehalose and different osmotic protectants were applied for protecting lyophilizing process of RBCs, the recovery of RBCs and Hb after rehydration of lyophilized RBCs was detected. The results showed that there were significant differences in loss ratio of RBCs between protectants composed of different compositions and concentrations (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The loss ratio of RBCs in protectant containing 30% PVP40, 150 mmol/L trehalose and 2% BSA was minimum (0.02%), the loss ratio of RBCs in protectant containing 6% PVP 360, 100 mmol/L trehalose and 2% BSA was maximum (0.27%). The difference of effect between 150 and 50 mmol/L trehalose was statistically significant (p<0.01). The recovery rates of RBCs and Hb in protectants contained PVP40 of different concentrations were different after rehydration of lyophilized RBCs. The protectant containing 15% PVP40, 150 mmol/L trehalose and 2% BSA showed optimal protective efficacy for lyophilized RBCs, the recovery rates of RBCs and Hb were 61.29+/-4.11% and 62.49+/-5.91% respectively, which were statistically different from other protectants (p<0.01). The protectants containing glycerol displayed best efficiency in lyophilization too, the recovery rates of RBCs and Hb were 65.97+/-4.52% and 67.24+/-5.94%, respectively. It is concluded that the protectants composed of 0.8 mol/L glycerol, 15% PVP40, 150 mmol/L trehalose and 2% BSA (pH 7.3 ) may be used as the protectant lyophilizing human RBCs in future study.
Blood Preservation ; methods ; Cryoprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Erythrocytes ; Freeze Drying ; methods ; Humans ; Trehalose ; administration & dosage ; analysis

OBJECTIVEImpulse oscillometry (IOS) is a novel technique for the evaluation of pulmonary function. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) are definitive indicators for the severity of asthma. This study aimed to explore the relationship of IOS pulmonary function with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, and their values in childhood asthma.

METHODSIOS via Master Screen System for pulmonary function was performed in 40 children with acute asthma and 25 healthy children. Twenty-three of 40 children with acute asthma were re-tested for IOS pulmonary function at remission. sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels were measured in 23 children with acute asthma, 20 asthmatic children at remission and 16 healthy children.

RESULTSThe parameters of IOS pulmonary function, R5, R20, R5-R20, X5, Fres and Zrs in children with acute asthma were significantly higher than in asthmatic children at remission and in normal controls (q= 2.91-15.61, P < 0.01 or 0.05). There were significant differences in R5, R5-R20, Fres and Zrs between the asthmatic children at remission and normal controls (q= 3.08- 9.19, P < 0.01 or 0.05). sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels in children with acute asthma were significantly higher than in asthmatic children at remission and in normal controls (q= 6.23-26.15, P < 0.01). The asthmatic children at remission had higher levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 than the normal controls (q=16.86, 12.46, P < 0.01). R5-R20 positively correlated with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in children with acute asthma (r=0.45, 0.57, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIOS for pulmonary function and sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 may be used to evaluate the severity and therapeutic effects of childhood asthma. A correlation exists between IOS pulmonary function and sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1.

Asthma ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Oscillometry ; methods ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

BACKGROUNDImpaired exercise capacity is one of the most common clinical manifestations in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The severity of reduced exercise capacity is an indicator of disease prognosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between left heart size and mass with exercise capacity.

METHODSA total of 74 patients were enrolled in the study, with 37 having congestive heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 0.45) and the other 37 with coronary heart disease (by coronary angiography) serving as the control group (LVEF > 0.55). Echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test were performed. The multiply linear regression model was used to evaluate the association between echocardiogrphic indices and exercise capacities.

RESULTSThe study showed that left ventricular end diastolic/systolic diameter (LVEDD/LVESD), left atrial diameter (LAD) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were significantly enlarged in patients with chronic heart failure compared with controls (P < 0.01). The VO(2)AT, Peak VO(2), Load AT, and Load Peak in chronic heart failure patients were also significantly reduced compared with controls (P < 0.05), VE/VCO(2) slope was increased in patients with chronic heart failure (P < 0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that the patients' exercise capacity was significantly associated with the left heart size and mass, however, the direction and/or strength of the associations sometimes varied in chronic heart failure patients and controls. Load AT correlated negatively with LVEDD in chronic heart failure patients (P = 0.012), while Load AT correlated positively with LVEDD in control patients (P = 0.006). VE/VCO(2) slope correlated positively with LAD (B = 0.477, P < 0.0001) in chronic heart failure patients, while the VE/VCO(2) slope correlated negatively with LAD in control patients (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONThe study indicates that the size of LVEDD and LAD are important determinants of exercise capacity in patients with CHF, which may be helpful to identify exercise tolerance for routine monitoring of systolic heart failure.

Aged ; Cardiac Volume ; physiology ; Echocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Tolerance ; physiology ; Female ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

Background: and Purpose Mutations in the FIG4 gene have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) type 11 in Caucasian populations. The purpose of this study was to identify FIG4 variants in a cohort of 15 familial ALS (FALS) indexes and 275 sporadic ALS (SALS) patients of Han Chinese origin. Methods: All 23 exons of FIG4 were sequenced using targeted next-generation sequencing.An extensive literature review was performed to detect genotype-phenotype associations of FIG4 mutations. Results: No FIG4 variants were identified in the FALS patients. One novel heterozygous missense variant (c.352G>T [p.D118Y]) and one novel heterozygous nonsense variant (c.2158G>T [p.E720X]) in FIG4 were identified in two SALS patients. The p.E720X variant is interpreted as likely pathogenic while the p.D118Y variant is a variant of uncertain significance. The patient carrying the p.E720X mutation developed lower-limb-onset slowly progressive ALS, and survived for 11.5 years. The patient harboring the FIG4 p.D118Y variant also presented with progressive ALS, with the score on the ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised (ALSFRS-R) decreasing by 0.4 per month. The rate of decrease in the ALSFRS-R scores from symptom onset to diagnosis seemed to be lower in the patients carrying FIG4 variants than the no-FIG4-mutation ALS patients in this study. Conclusions Our findings suggest that ALS patients carrying FIG4 mutations are not common in the Chinese population and are more likely to exhibit slow progression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the different parameters of the lyophilization procedures that affect the recovery of the rehydrated red blood cells (RBCs).

METHODSHuman RBCs loaded in tubes were cooled with 4 different modes and subjected to water bath at 25 degrees celsius;. The morphological changes of the RBCs were observed to assess the degree of vitrification, and the specimens were placed in the freeze-dryer with the temperature set up at 40, -50, -60, -70 and -80 degrees celsius;. The rates of temperature rise of the main and secondary drying in the lyophilization procedures were compared, and the water residue in the specimens was determined.

RESULTSThe protectant did not show ice crystal in the course of freezing and thawing. No significant difference was found in the recovery rate of the rehydrated RBCs freeze-dried at the minimum temperature of -70 degrees celsius; and -80 degrees celsius; (P > 0.05). The E procedure resulted in the maximum recovery of the RBCs (83.14% ± 9.55%) and Hb (85.33% ± 11.42%), showing significant differences from the other groups(P < 0.01 or 0.05). The recovery of the RBCs showed a positive correlation to the water residue in the samples.

CONCLUSIONFast cooling in liquid nitrogen and shelf precooling at -70 degrees celsius; with a moderate rate of temperature rise in lyophylization and a start dry temperature close to the shelf equilibrium temperature produce optimal freeze-drying result of human RBCs.

Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Freeze Drying ; Humans ; Tissue Preservation ; methods