Adolescent ; Adult ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Pneumoconiosis ; prevention & control ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Welding ; Young Adult

Objective To study the different effects of valsartan and extended realse nifedipine tablets on lowering blood pressure of essential hypertension patients and their reversal effects on left ventricular hypertrophy. Methods 100 cases of essential hypertension patients with left ventricular hypertrophy were randomly divided into valsartan group(group A) and adalt group(group B).Other antihypertensive drugs except diuretic were removed for 3 weeks.There were 50 cases in group A using valsartan 4～8mg qd,and 50 cases in group B using adalt 30～60 mg qd,the stud),lasted for 24 weeks.The blood pressure was measured and the altrasowic cardiogram examed in baseline and 24 weeks later.Results BP could be significantly reduced after treatment(P

Objective　In a RCT study, the safety and efficacy of sabot (a slow-release salbuteral) and volmax (controlled-release salbuterol) were compared in bronchial asthma. Methods　40 patients with moderate to severe asthma were randomly divided into two groups and treated by sabot or volmax for 2 weeks. The FEV1%, peak expiratory flow (PEF), symptom score and use of rescue ventolin were measured to evaluate the effect of treatment. Results　After treatment FEV1%, PEF and symptom score improved and the need for inhaling short-acting beta 2-agonis in both groups reduced significantly. There was no difference of these improvement between two groups. Conclusion　The safety and efficacy of sabot for treatment of asthma was similar to volmax.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of cytokines and keratinocytes in the survival mechanism of mixed auto and allogeneic skin grafting.

METHODSThirty-six SD rats were employed in the study. The rat model with mixed auto and allogeneic skin grafting and mixed human epithelial and lymphocytic culture (MELC) model were established. The change of IL-10 in the serum and the supernatant of the cultured tissue sample from the local wound was observed after the mixed skin grafting in scalded rats. And the role of epithelium in the induction of immunosuppression in vitro was monitored.

RESULTSThe serum IL-10 content in the rats with mixed skin grafting (25.89 +/- 2.82 ng/L) at 7 postoperative day (POD) was evidently higher than that in normal rats (14.20 +/- 2.43 ng/L) (P < 0.05). The IL-10 content in the culture supernatant of rat tissue samples exhibited evident different during 4-14 PODs (P < 0.05-0.01), while which was no difference to that in normal rat on 21st and 28th POD. The inhibiting effects of autologous epithelia and keratinocytes in MELC system were correlated with their dosage. After the adding of autologous keratinocytes to MELC system the cytokines secreted from Th1 could induce the secretion of cytokines from Th2 by IL-10 mediation. This effect could be corrected by the addition of monoclonal antibody of IL-10.

CONCLUSIONThe keratinocytes inlayed in the autoskin during mixed grafting could increase the local IL-10 level by activating Th2 cells, which might be one of the important reasons of the survival of mixed skin grafting.

Animals ; Burns ; immunology ; surgery ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Giant Cells, Langhans ; cytology ; Graft Survival ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin Transplantation ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the performance of computed tomography perfusion imaging (CTPI) in predicting the early response to transarterial chemo-lipiodol infusion (TACLI) and survival of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomography perfusion imaging was performed before and 1 month after TACLI in 61 consecutive patients. Therapeutic response was evaluated on CT scans 1 month and 4 months after TACLI; the patients were classified as responders and non-responders based on 4-month CT scans after TACLI. The percentage change of CTPI parameters of target lesions were compared between responders and non-responders at 1 month after TACLI. The optimal parameter and cutoff value were determined. The patients were divided into 2 subgroups according to the cutoff value. The log-rank test was used to compare the survival rates of the 2 subgroups. RESULTS: Four-month images were obtained from 58 patients, of which 39.7% were responders and 60.3% were non-responders. The percentage change in hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) 1 month after TACLI was the optimal predicting parameter (p = 0.003). The best cut-off value was -21.5% and patients who exhibited a > or = 21.5% decrease in HAP had a significantly higher overall survival rate than those who exhibited a < 21.5% decrease (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Computed tomography perfusion imaging can predict the early response to TACLI and survival of patients with CRLM. The percentage change in HAP after TACLI with a cutoff value of -21.5% is the optimal predictor.
Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage ; Ethiodized Oil/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatic Artery/radiography ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality/*radiography/secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion Imaging/*methods ; Prospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between heat stress proteins 70 (HSPs70) gene polymorphism and the risk of acute mountain sickness.

METHODSFifty-six soldiers with acute mountain sickness and 173 soldiers without that were chosen as cases and controls. HSP70-1, HSP70-2 genotypes were analyzed by using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.

RESULTSThe HSP70-1 polymorphism was similar in two groups. The genotype frequency of HSP70-2 B/B in acute mountain sickness group (23.2%) was significantly higher than that in the control (6.9%, P < 0.05, OR = 4.02).

CONCLUSIONThere is a significantly increased association of HSP70-2 B/B genotype with the risk of acute mountain sickness. Individuals with HSP70-2 B/B genotype may have weaker adaptive ability than those without this genotype under altitude stress. The results contribute to provide scientific bases for finding these individuals in specified occupational people, ensuring their health and enhancing work efficiency.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Genotype ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of QuDu ZengNing Capsule on AIDS.

METHODSQuDu ZengNing Capsule is a capsule containing extract from 4 Chinese medicinal herbs. Totally 1,000 AIDS patients were treated, among them 60 patients were clinically observed weekly. Blood routine tests, liver, heart and kidney function, X-ray, CD4, CD8 cells were examined before and after treatment at 1, 3, 6 month. The patients were treated with 4 capsules t.i.d for 6 months.

RESULTSThe symptoms were improved in most of the patients, the CD4 cells increased from 115.0 to 295.2/ul and the viral load (RNA copies/ml) in most patients reduced markedly or maintained at the same level.

CONCLUSIONThese data indicated that QuDu ZengNing Capsule was effective for treatment of AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Viral Load

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma and to analyze its relationship with Epstein-barr virus(EBV). MethodsTotally, 36 cases of cutaneous NK/T cell lymphoma were collected from 2000 to 2010 at the Department of Pathology, Peking University Health Science Center, and classified into primary and secondary groups according to whether there is evidence of extracutaneous involvement within 6 months after diagnosis. Clinicopathological features were analyzed and Epstein-barr virus (EBV) was detected. ResultsOf these 36 cases, 13 (36.1％) were classified as primary cutaneous NK/T cell lymphoma, 20 (55.6％) as secondary, and 3 (8.3％) remained unclassified because of the lack of clinical data. Males were more likely to develop both primary and secondary cutaneous NK/T cell lymphoma than females, but there was no striking difference in sex ratio between the patients with primary and secondary lymphoma (P ＞ 0.05 ). Compared with the patients with primary cutaneous NK/T cell lymphoma, those with secondary cutaneous NK/T cell lymphoma showed a younger median age at onset(43.5 vs. 54 years, P ＜ 0.05), higher prevalence of B symptoms(including fever, night sweat, body weight loss) and multiple skin lesions (P ＜ 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). EBV was positive in 92.3％ (12/13) of the primary lymphoma cases and 85％(17/20) of the secondary lymphoma cases. Moreover, the median survival was 8 months in all the cutaneous NK/T cell lymphoma cases, and was significantly shorter in secondary cases than in the primary cases(6 vs. 18 months, x2 = 6.074, P ＜ 0.05). ConclusionsCutaneous NK/T cell lymphoma is an EBV-associated, clinica]ly aggressive disease entity. Patients with primary cutaneous NI/T cell lymphoma seem to have an older age at onset and a better prognosis as compared with those with secondary cutaneous NK/T cell lymphoma.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the epidemiological characteristics, related risk factors, measures for its control of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSData on epidemiological features, pathogens and measures for control were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSSince Jan 2003, infectious atypical pneumonia (AP) has become epidemic in Guangzhou city. The first autochthonous case was identified on Jan 2nd. Number of cases started to increase since February and reached peak in the early 10 days of February. Hereafter the epidemic tended to decline in March and since early April, the average number of new cases began to decrease, less than 10 per day. Epidemiological studies revealed that the number of cases aged between 20 and 50 was higher than that below the age of 20. Of the total 966 cases, 429 were males versus 537 females. Geographically, the epidemics covered all 13 districts of Guangzhou, but 95% of the cases concentrated in 7 urban districts. As for professional distribution, health care workers accounted for 28.67% of the total cases. There were 36 deaths, aged from 5 to 89, with half of them older than 60. Out of the victims, 38.9% of them had complications as hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases and COPD etc. Data regarding the clustering features of cases showed that there were 42 families having 2 or more cases in one family, while 277 health workers suffered from SARS were concentrated in 28 hospitals. Only one outbreak took place in a public setting but no outbreak was reported in schools. Relevant research also indicated that SARS could be classified as an air-borne infectious disease, transmitted through aerosol and droplets, but close contact also played an important role in the mode of transmission. The disease was highly infectious, suggesting that people who had close contact with patients in the place with poor ventilation was in greater risk of getting infection. The incubation period ranged from 1 to 11 days (mainly from 3 to 8 days), with an average of 5 days. According to our observation, the following measures might be effective such as: early diagnosis, isolation and treatment provided to the patients, and suspected cases under medical observation should also be put in separate places. Improving ventilation and regular disinfection over air and stuff in hospital wards were also recommended. In order to prevent iatrogenic infection, sense on self-protection among health care workers must be strengthened. Patients were not allowed to be visited by any one other than hospital staff.

CONCLUSIONSARS is a preventable disease and can be under control. It is of great importance to prevent clustered SARS cases and the prevention of iatrogenic infection is essential.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Contact Tracing ; Disease Outbreaks ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and side-effects of low-dose melphalan for the treatment of intermediate- to high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients.

METHODSThirty patients with intermediate- to high-risk MDS received oral melphalan at a daily dose of 2 mg. The melphalan therapy was continued until marrow blasts increased or severe cytopenia attributed to melphalan. Patients achieved complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR) were still maintained with melphalan until disease relapse.

RESULTSAmong the 30 patients, 9 (30.0%) achieved CR, 3 (10.0%) PR, 3 (10.0%) bone marrow complete remission and hematology improvement (MCR + HI), 1 (3.3%) MCR, 4 (13.3%) stable disease and 10 (33.3%) no response, the overall response rate being 66.7% according to the Modified International Working Group Response Criteria for MDS. The CR plus PR rate (60.0%) and total response rate (80.0%) in patients with normocellular or hypocellular bone marrow were significantly higher than in those with hypercellular bone marrow (0.0%, 40%, respectively) (P = 0.002 and 0.045, respectively). Median overall survival (OS) and median relapse-free survival (RFS) were 18 (95% CI 14-22) and 11 (95% CI 3-19) months, respectively. There was no side-effect except for slight marrow suppression in 3 patients and one patient died from brain hemorrhage on inefficacy of platelet transfusion.

CONCLUSIONSLow-dose melphalan therapy for intermediate- to high-risk MDS patients is safe and effective, especially suitable for elderly patients with hypocellular marrow.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melphalan ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult