Objective: To evaluate the expression levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in various types of cognitive impairment. Methods: A total of 212 patients were included in the study. They were divided into mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 46), Alzheimers disease (AD) (n = 58), vascular dementia (VD) (n = 84), and control (n = 24) groups after being screened and evaluated. The concentrations of plasma Lp-PLA2 of patients in each group were measured and compared. The correlation between the Lp-PLA2 level and dementia was analyzed through Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Circled digit oneThe Lp-PLA2 levels in the MCI, AD and VD groups were 45 ± 4 μg/L, 83 ± 15 μg/L, and 112 ± 22 μg/L, respectively, and they were higher than 34 ± 3 μg/L in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Circled digit twoThe Lp-PLA2 level was 93 ± 8 μg/L in men, and it was higher than 73 ± 13 μg/L in women in the AD group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The Lp-PLA2 level in men was 127 ± 21 μg/L, and it was higher than 97 ± 10 μg/L in women in the VD group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Circled digit threeThe Cox proportional hazards model showed that the Lp-PLA2 level was correlated with the high risk of dementia. The correlation of VD was the highest, then AD, and MCI was the lowest. Conclusion: High level of Lp-PLA2 has correlation with mild cognitive impairment, and has gender differences in patients with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, it may be contributive to early diagnosis of cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and regularity of adverse drug reactions (ADR) of out- patients occurred in our hospital. METHODS: 494 cases of ADR cases collected in our out- patient dispensary from 2007 to 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of total 494 ADR cases,ADR incidence of female (62.96%) was obviously higher than male (37.04%). 58.50% of ADR cases were induced via intravenouse route drugs and 51.21% were caused by antibiotics,among which 104 cases were caused by fluoroquinolones and 90 cases by macrolide,followed by the cardiovascular and cerebral system drugs (13.97%) and traditional Chinese medicine (13.16%). The main clinical manifestations of ADR cases were lesion of skin and appendant (29.17%),injury of digestive system(22.37%) and nervous system(17.34%). CONCLUSION: More attention should be paid to the ADR monitoring to provide reference for clinical rational use of drug.

PurposeTo evaluate the existence and extent of magnetic resonance(MR) artifacts caused by frequently used metallic dental materials and to compare the influence of different MRI sequences on artifacts.MethodsA total of 22 kinds and 25 metallic dental samples were tested with 1.5 T MR imager and gradient-echo sequence. Spin-echo and fast spin-echo were added to parts of these samples. Results Of all the 25 metallic dental samples, 11 including gold, amalgam, and silver point did not produce artifact. Titanium alloy and porcelain product fused in metal had mild artifacts. Whereas the remaining 12 samples such as the retention pin and pivot pin showed severe artifacts. Artifacts produced by retention pin, nickel chromium crown and so on were less severe on fast spin-echo. ConclusionsAttention should be paid to some of the metallic dental materials, which could cause severe MR artifacts and image degradation, when undergoing face,jaw and head MR examination. Artifacts can be alleviated by using proper metallic materials or choosing proper imaging sequence and parameters.

Background and purpose:The patients with aggressive lymphoma who have a poor prognosis and unlikely to be cured with conventional chemotherapy. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of high-dose etoposide in mobilization followed auto-SCT in treating refractory lymphoma. Methods:40 patients [median age 33 (13-61) years] with refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL, n=32) or Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HD, n=8) received high-dose etoposide [VP16 10-15 mg/(kg·d)×2 d] in mobilization in our center. Remission status prior to mobilization was PD (n=40). The use of such granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF, 5-10μg/(kg·d)] mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) after high-dose etoposide until the end of leukapheresis. Peripheral blood stem cell was collected and frozen in-80℃refrigerator. All these patients received auto peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT). Conditioning regimen was BEAM (n=19, 47.5%) or CBV (n=21, 52.5%). Results:Twenty-eight pa-tients (70%) were assessable for response after high-dose etoposide at a median pretreatment time of 39 days (range 17-172 days), 12 patients (30%) had no response. Median follow-up of 28 (4-66) months, 16 patients (40%) reached CR after auto-PBSCT. Fifteen of the 28 patients (53.6%) who had response to high-dose etoposide reached CR, 4 patients (14.3%) reached PR, 9 patients (32.1%) succumb to progression of disease. One of the 12 patients (8.3%) who had no response to high-dose etoposide reached CR, 1 patients (8.3%) reached PR, 10 patients (83.4%) succumb to progression of disease. The estimated 1-year OS and EFS were 69%and 56.7%respectively, 2-years OS and EFS were 63%and 52%respectively. The prognosis of the patients who had no response to etoposide was poor. The estimated 1-year OS and EFS were 25%and 16.7%respectively. Two group of comparison differences have statistics signiifcance (P<0.01). Conclusion: High-dose etoposide could be used in refractory lymphoma as rescue therapy in mobilization. It can increase the EFS and OS of patients who had response. The hematopoietic stem cells collection and hematopoietic reconstitution are not affected by etoposide.

Objective To evaluate the influence of different field-strength magnets(1.5 T and 3.0 T)on MRI artifacts caused by Ni-Cr alloy fixed prostheses.Methods The crown,bridge and upper denture fixed prostheses with different thickness were produced by Ni-Cr alloy as test samples,and were one by one put on the centre of water phantom for MR scanning with different field-strength magnets(1.5 T and 3.0 T).The artifact areas on these two field-strength magnets were measured and statistically compared.The plastic prostheses with the same shape and thickness as the test samples were served as controls.Results Ni-Cr alloy fixed prostheses could cause MRI artifacts,and the artifact areas increased with the mass of prostheses.However,no artifact area was found in controls.Compared with those on 1.5 T magnet,the MRI artifact areas significantly increased on 3.0 T magnet(P

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of combined therapy of mild hypothermia and hibernation to treat severe brain injury. Methods24 patients with severe brain injury were randomly divided into combined therapy group and normothermia group. Glasgow Coma Scale scores of all the patients were in the range of 3 to 8. No later than 10 hours after their injury, hypothermia patients were given half dosage of No.1 hibernation cocktail and had been cooled by cooling blankets to 32℃-34℃ (rectal temperature) for 5 days, then to 35℃ for 24 hours, and slowly increased to their normal level. 3 days and 7 days after their admission, intracranial pressure,creatine phosphate kinase,partial pressure of arterial O2 and CO2, platelet and Na+,K+ were measured.7 days after their admission, Glasgow Outcome Scale scores of each patient and mortality of each group were measured. ResultsThe mortality of combined therapy group(25.0%) was significantly lower than that of normothermia group (66.6%,P<0.05). The decreased values of intracranial pressure, creatine phosphate kinase and platelet number of combined therapy group were all significantly higher than that of normothermia group respectively (P<0.05). There were no significant difference in mean artery pressure, blood electrolyte, and partial pressure of arterial O2 and CO2 between these two groups(P>0.05). ConclusionThe combined therapy of mild hypothermia and hibernation can effectively reduce the mortality of patients with severe brain injury as it is much easier, less invasive and with less complications.

Objective To investigate the presence of occult brain tissue damage in patients with relapsing neuromyelitis optica(RNMO)and its possible mechanism by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods DTI scans were performed in 16 patients with RNMO and 16 sex-and age-matched healthy controls.Histogram analysis of mean diffusivity (MD)and fractional anisotropy (FA)was performed in brain tissue (BT),white matter (WM)and gray matter (GM)to detect the presence of occult brain tissue damage in RNMO patients.Region of interest(ROI )analysis of MD and FA was also performed in 6 dedicated regions with or without direct connection with spinal cord or optic nerve to determine the relationship between occult brain tissue damage and the damage of spinal cord and optic nerve.Results Patients with RNMO had a significantly higher average MD of the BT[RNMO(0.95?0.02)? 10~(-3)mm~2/s,controls (0.91?0.03)?10~(-3)mm~2/s,t = 3.940,P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Schisandra chinensis lignans (SCL) on neuronal apoptosis and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of rats in the cerebral ischemia injury model, and study its possible mechanism.

METHODRats were orally administered SCL high, middle and low dose groups (100, 50, 25 mg x kg(-1)) for 14 days. The cerebral ischemia injury model was established by using the suture-occluded method to rate the neurological functions. The cerebral infarction area was observed by TTC staining. The pathological changes in brain tissues were determined by HE staining. Bcl-2 and Bax expressions were detected by immunohistochemical assay. The protein expressions of p-AKT and AKT were assayed by Western blotting.

RESULTCompared with the model group, SCL high, middle and low dose groups showed reduction in the cerebral infarction area to varying degrees, improve the pathological changes in brain tissues, promote the expression of apoptin Bcl-2 and p-AKT, and inhibit the expression of apoptin Bax.

CONCLUSIONSCL shows a protective effect on rats with cerebral ischemia injury. Its mechanism may be related to the increase in p-AKT ability and antiischemic brain injury capacity and the inhibition of nerve cells.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Phytotherapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo summarize the complications and the early clinical effect of less invasive stabilization system and the femoral condylar support plates in the treatment of AO type C distal femoral fractures.

METHODSFrom September 2007 to February 2012, 46 patients with AO type C distal femoral fractures were retrospectively studied. Of all patients 25 were treated with less invasive stabilization system including 14 males and 11 females with a mean age of (56.3±4.2) years old; according to AO classification, there were 14 cases of C1, 8 cases of C2 and 3 cases of C3 with a mean hospital stay of (15.6±1.7) days. While 21 cases were treated with femoral condylar support plates fixation including 12 males and 9 females with a mean age of (53.8±5.1) years old;there were 13 cases of C1, 6 cases of C2 and 2 cases of C3 with a mean hospital stay of (17.8±2.2) days. Comparative analysis was performed from the operation related index,postoperative complications and Evanich score of the knee joint function between the two groups at follow-up.

RESULTSAll 46 patients were followed up from 13 to 38 months with a mean time of 19.6 months after surgery. Complications included 1 case with infection,3 cases with internal fixation failure, 1 case with nonunion and 1 case with activity limitation of the affected knee. The differences in the incision length, blood loss, fracture healing time were significant between two groups (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the duration of operations, hospital stays and the incidence of postoperative complications between two groups (P>0.05). The statistical significance was also found in the Evanich score at last follow-up between two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with less invasive stabilization system fixation had the characteristics of less trauma, shorter fracture healing time and better functional recovery. Less invasive stabilization system had became one of the ideal internal fixations in the treatment of AO type C distal femoral fractures.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Qizhi Jiangtang Capsule (QJC) in treating stage 3b diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients with macroalbuminuria.

METHODSPatients who conformed to the diagnostic criteria of stage 3b DKD were randomly assigned to two groups according to random digital table, the experiment group and the control group, 84 in each group. All patients received a two-week elution period, and then were treated with basic Western therapy. Patients in the experiment group took QJC, 5 pills per time, 3 times a day, while those in the control group took Valsartan Capsule 160 mg each time, once daily. The observation period of follow-ups was limited within 6 months, and the time points were set as the baseline, 1st month, 3rd month, and 6th month. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBS), 24 h urine protein quantitative (24 h UPQ), plasma albumin (ALB), and serum creatinine (SCr) were detected and recorded, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. The occurrence of hypoglycemic reaction, coagulation disorder, gastrointestinal tract reaction, allergy, hyperkalemia, doubling of creatinine, and overall adverse events were observed and recorded at same time.

RESULTSFinally 81 patients in the experiment group and 80 patients in the control group were effectively included. Compared with the baseline level, SBP and DBS obviously decreased in the control group at month 1 of treatment (P < 0.05), and more significantly decreased at month 6 of treatment (P < 0.01). SBP at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups; DBS at month 6 of follow-ups was lower in the control group than in the experiment group (P < 0.05). At month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups, 24 h UPQ of the experiment group was significantly lower than the baseline level (P < 0.01). It was also significantly lower than the level of the control group at the same time point (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in 24 h UPQ at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups between the control group and the baseline level (P > 0.05). ALB of the experiment group showed an increasing trend. It was significantly higher than the baseline level at month 6 (P < 0.05), which was also higher than that of the control group at same period (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the ALB level in the control group (P > 0.05). SCr of two groups showed an increasing trend. SCr of the experiment group was significantly higher at month 1, 3, and 6 follow-ups than the baseline level (P < 0.05). But the increment of SCr was higher in the control group than in the experimental group, and obviously higher than the baseline levels (P < 0.05). eGFR of both groups showed a decreasing trend. The decrement was higher in the control group than in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The proportion of progression of renal functions at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups in the experimental group was 0.0% (0 case), 9.55% (8 cases), and 21.4% (18 cases), while they were 8.3% (7 cases), 21.4% (18 cases), and 40.5% (34 cases) in the control group. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of progression of renal functions between the two groups at month 3 and 6 of follow-ups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQJC could effectively reduce urinary protein of patients with stage 3b DKD, and delay the progression of renal functions.

Adult ; Albumins ; analysis ; Albuminuria ; drug therapy ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Creatinine ; blood ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan