The NOD protein family include NOD1 and NOD2,both of which recognize intracellular bacterial peptidoglycan,induce inflammation and promote host defense.In this review article,we summarize the research progress on NOD family,including signaling and regulation.We will also discuss their cellular localization and the role in host defense.Understanding on their physiological function will help shed light on pathogenesis on related diseases.

Objective To assess the value of susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI) in the diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage. Methods Forty patients with intracranial hemorrhage underwent MRI scanning (GE Signa HDe 1.5 T), which included T2WI, T1WI, T2 * WI and SWI. Of them, DWI was conducted in 37 cases and enhanced MRI was conducted in 10 cases additionally. After post processing on the workstation, both magnitude and phase images of SWI were acquired for further analysis. The images of all sequences were scored from 1 to 3, according to their ability of depicting the lesions. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the scores among these sequences. Results On SWI, the scores in detecting the lesions, their margin and adjacent veins were 2. 8, 2. 8, and 2. 8 respectively. The scores of those were 1.8, 1.7,and 0.0 on T1WI, 2.3, 2.0 and 0.0 on T2WI, 2.0, 2.1 and 0.2 on T2* WI, respectively. There was statistical difference between the scores on SWI and those on T1WI, T2 WI and T2 * WI ( P < 0. 01 ). The numbers of micro hemorrhagic lesions that could be observed on SWI, T1WI, T2WI, DWI and T2 *WI were 402, 55, 61, 84 and 188 respectively. There was statistical difference in showing micro hemorrhagic lesions between SWI and T1WI, T2WI, DWI, T2 * WI (P < 0. 01 ). Conclusion SWI is sensitive to visualize the hemorrhagic region, and has predominant advantage over conventional MR sequences including T2 * WI in detecting intracranial hemorrhage, especially cerebral microbleeding. According to the features of the paramagnetic and diamagnetic lesions, radiologists can differentiate hemorrhage and calcification with phase images.

As a member of nuclear receptor superfamily, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) has been shown to regulate numerous metabolic pathways, which include playing an important role in bile acid metabolism, maintaining lipid and glucose homeostasis when FXR is activated. With the prevalence of the glucose and lipids disorder, FXR attracts increasing attention. It may be a potential target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and lipid disorders.
Bile Acids and Salts ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism

Objective To explore the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in elderly men. Methods All BPH outpatients in Geriatric department of the second Xiang Ya Hospital in Feb 2008 were recruited in this study. Bioche assays including insulin (FINS), prostate specific antigen (PSA), HbAlc, fasting plasma glucose, 2 hours postprandial blood glucose were performed and HOMA-IR were calculated. The blood pressure, body weight, height and waist circumference were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Prostate volume (PV) was measured by abdominal ultrasound, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was evaluated by International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and inquired about the history of LUTS in detail. Results (1) HOMA-IR＞ 2.8 was diagnosed as insulin resistance (IR). The patients were divided into two groups: insulin sensitivity (IS) group (n=48) and IR group (n=20). The PV level was higher in IR group than in IS group [(61.1-32. 9) ml vs. (40.4±16.5)ml, P＜0. 05], there were no statistical differences in PSA [(3.3±2.3) μg/L vs. (2.91±1.3) μg/L, P＞0.05], the history of LUTS [(13.4±6.6)years vs. (8.7±6.0)years, P＞0.05], IPSS [(16.42±6.67)scores vs. (13. 29±7.09)scores, P＞0. 05] between the two groups. (2)According to BPH progressivity evaluation provided by MTOPS study (age≥62 years, PSA≥1. 6 μg/L, PV≥31 ml), the patients were divided into two groups: low progressive risk group (n= 30) and high progressive risk group (n= 38). The FINS and HOMA-IR levels were significantly higher in highprogressive risk group than in low progressive risk group (all P＜0. 01). (3)The PV was positively correlated with HOMA-IR level and FINS level (r= 0. 431, 0. 492, P＜0. 01). Conclusions IR exists in majority of elderly BPH patients, the degree of IR and relative high level of FINS are related to the enlargement of PV and the development of BPH.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of radioactive nuclide strontium chloride (89SrCl2) combined with 99Tc-MDP in treating patients with breast cancer and osseous metastasis. Methods:A total of 80 patients with breast cancer and experiencing bone pain from osseous metastasis were randomly categorized into three groups. 22 patients were treated with 99Tc-MDP (99Tc-MDP group), 30 were treated with 89SrCl2 (89SrCl2 group), and 28 were treated with the combination therapy of 89SrCl2 and 99Tc-MDP (combination group). The analgesic effect, remission of bone metastases, and quality of life of patients in the three groups were observed before and after treatment. Side effect was also monitored. Results:In the combination group, the overall pain relief rate and the increase rate of life quality score were 92.9%(26/28) and 78.6%(22/28), respectively. The combination group was statistically significantly different from the two single-treatment groups (P<0.05). The effective rate of metastatic lesions was 46.4%(13/28) in the combination group, which was significantly higher than that in the 99Tc-MDP group (18.2%, 4/22;P<0.05). The effective rate of metastatic lesions was not significantly different between the combination and 89SrCl2 groups (33.3%, 10/30) (P>0.05). Conclusion:The treatment of 89SrCl2 com-bined with 99Tc-MDP can increase the analgesic effect and significantly improve the curative effect without overt side effects in patients with breast cancer and bone metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Very satisfactory clinical effects have been achieved in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee with intraarticular injection of sodium hyaluronate (SH) allied with steroid hormones for nerve block. How will such allied treatment be used for periarthritis of shoulder?OBJECTIVE: To probe into the improvement of pain and joint function in periarthritis of shoulder treated with integration of intraarticular injection of SH with nerve and pain block with betamethasone.DESIGN: Self-control was designed before and after experiment.SETTING: Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients with periarthritis of shoulder were included, aged from 40 to 65 years from Pain Clinic of Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated to Capital University of Medical Sciences from January to October 2004.METHODS: Integration of intraarticular injection of SH with nerve and pain block with betamethasone was applied to treat 20 cases of periarthritis of shoulder and the record was done before treatment and 1in which, "no any pain sensation" was 0 score, "unable to bear pain with imagination" was 10 scores. Pain score was recorded during quiet involved. 4 scores indicated being impossible completely, 3 scores indicate being possible with help, 2 scores indicate being possibled reluctantly and mostly feeling inconvenient, 1 score indicated being possible reluctantly without inconvenience and 0 score indicated being possible as healthy person.of daily life activity.RESULTS: According to practical management and analysis, 20 cases enment compared with that before treatment [(4.34±1.33),(8.27±1.37)scores,compared with that before treatment [(4.73±1.31), (8.49±1.35)scores,ment compared with that before treatment [ ( 1.10 ±0.74), (3.30 ±0.48 )scores, P ＜ 0.01]. CONCLUSION: Integration of intraarticular injection of SH with nerve and pain block with betamethasone treats effectively periarthritis of shoulder, without remarkably harmful reaction and it is worth in popularization in treatment of pain.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Methods From January 2012 to January 2013,29 patients with histopathologically confirmed NPC who received radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy were included in this study.All patients underwent hearing tests,including pure tone audiometry and acoustic immittance measurement,before and after the IMRT.The cochlear doses for each ear were also collected for analysis.A prospective analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between cochlear dose and SNHL in patients with NPC,and the effects of other factors,including time after radiotherapy,chemotherapy,T stage,and age,were also analyzed.Results Of the 58 ears studied,6(10％) had low-frequency SNHL,and 17 (29％) had highfrequency SNHL.There were significant differences in mean cochlear doses between the patients who developed SNHL after radiotherapy and those who did not (left ears:46.1 Gy vs.35.5 Gy,P =0.006;right ears:45.0 Gy vs.35.8 Gy,P =0.009).When the mean cochlear dose was less than 44 Gy,only 15％ (6/38) of ears had high-frequency SNHL.The invasion of skull base bone was also a significant risk factor for SNHL(P =0.047),but age,chemotherapy,and time after IMRT were not significant risk factors.Conclusions The mean cochlear dose and invasion of skull base bone are significant risk factors for SNHL in patients with NPC after radiotherapy.It is recommended that the mean cochlear dose should be limited to 44 Gy to minimize the incidence of SNHL after IMRT.

Attitude to Health ; China ; Dust ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health Services ; Pneumoconiosis ; prevention & control ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE To find out the actual situations of antibiotics utilization in Respiratory Department of our hospital and provide feedback of improper applications to the clinic,so as to promote proper utilization of antibiotics.METHODS To take samples from clinical cases of 141 samples in Oct to Nov 2006 and fill the forms of the basic information and investigation items of General Hospital of Chinese People′s Armed Police Forces,the cases were finally sorted and summarized with Excel.RESULTS The antibiotics utilization ratio was 96.5%,their combination usage accounted for 70.2%,the etiology detection rate was 61.7%,the improper usage accounted for 34.8%.CONCLUSIONS The situation of antibiotics utilization in our hospital has changed a lot.Hospitals should define regulations and reinforce the management according to The Principle Guidelines of Antibiotics Utilization and actual situations.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) combined with large balloon dilation for bile duct stones.Methods A total of 83 patients with common bile duct stones were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive standard EST (n =41,EST group) or EST plus large balloon dilation (n =42,EPLBD group),respectively.The number of endoscopic session,operation time,rates of successful complete stone retrieval,mechanical lithotripsy,and procedure related complication were compared between the two groups.Results The rate of early procedure-related complications was similar in 2 groups (9/41 vs.7/42,P ＞0.05),including perforation ( 1/41 vs.0/42,P ＞0.05),bleeding (5/41 vs.2/42,P＞0.05) and pancreatitis (3/41 vs.5/42,P＞0.05).The rate of successful complete stone removal was also similar in 2 groups (39/41 vs.41/42,P ＞ 0.05 ).However,EST group needed more procedure time (38.8 ±4.3 min vs.29.2 ±5.3 min,P ＜0.01 ) and use of mechanical lithotripsy to achieve complete stone removal (9/41 vs.2/42,P ＜ 0.05 ).Only one patient in EPLBD group ( 1/42,2.4％ ) needed a second ERCP to clear bile duct stone,while in EST group,8 patients underwent a second procedure ( 19.5％,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion For endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones,EST combined with larg4e balloon dilation is as safe and effective as EST,while easier in manipulation.