Objective To investigate the differentiatial diagnostic value of 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ( MIBI ) SPECT combined with localizable CT in the evaluation of oxygen intervention for suspicious lung lesions,and to establish a cost-effective imaging modality in the detection of malignant lung lesions.Methods From September 2008 to March 2009,47 consecutive patients with suspicious malignant lung lesions underwent 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT prospectively. Patients with suspicious pneumonia were treated with antibiotics for about 4 d before imaging. All patients were cannulized with a nostril tube for oxygen inhalation before 99Tc-MIBI injection. SPECT combined with localizable CT of the chest was performed at 10 min and 2 h after 99Tcm-MIBI injection. The uptake ratios of lesion to contralateral normal lung parenchyma(early uptake ratio:EUR and delayed uptake ratio:DUR) were compared using independent-samples ttest. In addition,the diagnostic efficiency of uptake ratios of lung lesions was analyzed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Forty-seven patients ( primary lung cancers:32,metastatic tumors of the lung:4,benign lung diseases:11 ) had 51 lung lesions,including 39 malignant and 12 benign lung lesions. The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value (PPV),and negative predictive value (NPV) were 94.9% (37/39),83.3% ( 10/12),92.2% (47/51),94.9% (37/39) and 83.3% ( 10/12),respectively. The EUR of malignant lesions was 2.95 ± 1.16,whereas of benign lesions was 1.43 ±0.33. The DUR of the malignant lesions was 3.19 ± 1.74,whereas of benign lesions was 1.60 ±0.32. Both EUR and DUR were significantly different between malignant and benign lung lesions,respectively (t= -4.44,-3.12,respectively,both P＜0.01). The ROC curve showed that EUR value ≥1.625 provided the sensitivity of 97.4% (38/39) and specificity of 83.3% (10/12); DUR value ≥ 1.75provided the sensitivity of 94.9% (37/39) and specificity of 83.3% (10/12). Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT combined with localizable CT imaging in oxygen intervention has a potential value in differentiating malignant from benign lung lesions.

To explore the epidemiological character of Methicillin-resistant Stapkylococcus aureus (MRSA) by the phenotyping and genotyping motheds and to investgate the source, transmission, and the spread of nosocomial MRSA infection, consequently, reducing the nosocomial infection of MRSA. In this study, 19 MRSA strains were isolated from patients and environment in a hospital in two months. Patterns of resistantce against 16 antimicrobial agents and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis ( PFGE) of these strains were analyzed to find the relationship among those isolates Clustering analysis was made from the patterns. Some isolates with high homology was found in 19 MRSA, 11 of them belong to type A, and 8 of them belong to the same subtype A1. They were endemic in burn ward, oncological ward and ICU. In addition, 4 isolates were clustered into group B, all found in the same ward of burn unit Thus, our results indicated a outbreak of MRSA ( A type) in this hospital and the potential prevalence of MRSA (B type) , which might be mediated by health care stuff. It is essential to enhance the infection control implementation and to utilize the PFGE genotyping system for the real-time surveillance of MRSA.

Cholelithiasis ; complications ; Hepatitis ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo provide reliable evidence of "J in three-needle therapy" for treatment of stroke.

METHODSMulti-central randomized controlled trials were adopted, 180 hemiplegia patients of ischemic stroke were randomly divided into a fin three-needle group (90 cases) and a routine acupuncture group (90 cases). Two groups were both treated with basic neurology therapies, and J in three-needle group was treated with J in three-needle therapy, three acupoints of tempora, hand and foot etc. were selected; the routine acupuncture group was treated with traditional acupuncture, Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30), Futu (ST 32) etc. were selected. Both groups were treated with acupuncture for 5 weeks. The cognitive function score of functional comprehensive assessment scale (FCA), the scores of mini-mental state examination scale (MMSE) and modified Barthel index (BI) were compared before and after treatment between two groups. Results After treatment, the scores of FCA, MMSE and BI in both groups were significantly improved compared to those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the improvement of FCA score, MMSE score and BI score in the J in three-needle group were superior to those of the routine acupuncture group after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The total effective rate of 85.4% in the J in three-needle group was superior to tohat of 70.0% in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJ in three-needle acupuncture treatment can obviously improve the cognitive function and activity ability of daily life of hemiplegia patients after stroke, and the therapeutic effect of J in three-needle therapy is superior to that of traditional acupuncture treatment.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cognition ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; etiology ; psychology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications

OBJECTIVEThis study attempted to explore the value of combining serum hepatic fibrosis-related markers and ultrasound parameters together on diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSSix serum markers and 8 ultrasound parameters were measured from 100 patients with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis. The results of the serum hepatic fibrosis-related markers and ultrasound in disease group were analyzed and compared with the findings of hepatic pathology.

RESULTSBy filtrating,the group of platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) plus hyaluronic acid (HA) plus echo characteristics of liver parenchyma (LPEC) plus length of spleen (SL) had the highest Se and Spe, which were 90.7% and 85.4% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe advantageous combination of serum markers and ultrasound parameters can significantly improve Se and Spe, which is superior to any single serum index or ultrasound parameter. And it was a better non-invasive method for diagnosing hepatic fibrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate how smoking was affecting the prevalence of sleep apnea/ hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) among adults aged over 30 years in Chengde city of Hebei province.

METHODS1168 subjects, over 30 years of age were derived from a random sample from a community-based population in Shuangqiao district of Chengde city. All subjects responded to a questionnaire at their own houses regarding their habits of snoring and smoking. 1168 subjects (95.2%) answered the questions satisfactorily.

RESULTS(1) Among the smoking groups, the prevalence of snoring was 69.09%, higher than that in the nonsmoking groups 45.07% (P = 0.000). (2) In males, the smoking group had a higher prevalence (69.72%) of snoring than in the nonsmoking group (60.80%, P = 0.033). (3) Females in the smoking group had a higher prevalence of snoring (61.80%) than in the nonsmoking group (39.70%, P = 0.011). (4) The prevalence of snoring in males (60.80%) was significantly higher than that in females (39.70%, P = 0.000). (5) The prevalence (69.72%) of snoring in smoking males was similar to that in smoking females (61.80%, P = 0.336). (6) Data from logistic regression analysis indicated that smoking was one of the factors affecting snoring. (7) According to the degree of snoring, 127 moderate and severe snorers were measured by portable PSG for a whole night and the prevalence of SAHS was estimated. According to the AHI > or = 5 and the ESS > or = 9 cutoff-points, the prevalence rates of SAHS in smoking groups were both significantly higher than that in nonsmoking groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSmoking and snoring among adults aged over 30 years had correlation in our city.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysomnography ; Prevalence ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; epidemiology ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Snoring ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study explored the mechanism of Sanhuang Decoction(SHD) in treating dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC) in mice with Candida albicans(Ca) colonization via high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. Specifically, the animal model was established by oral administration of 3.0% DSS for 7 days followed by intragastrical administration of Ca suspension at 1.0 × 10~8 cells for 4 days and then the mice were treated with SHD enema for 7 days. Afterwards, the general signs were observed and the disease activity index(DAI) was recorded every day. After mice were sacrificed, colon length and colon mucosa damage index(CMDI) were determined and the histomorphology was observed with the HE staining method. The fungal loads of feces were detected with the plate method. Anti-saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody(ASCA) and β-1,3-glucan in serum, and TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum and colon were detected by ELISA. High-throughput RNA sequencing method was adopted to identify transcriptome of colon tissues from the control, model and SHD(15.0 g·kg~(-1)) groups. Differentially expressed genes(DEGs) among groups were screened and the GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs was performed. The expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β genes related to the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway which involved 9 DEGs, were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The results demonstrated that SHD improved the general signs, decreased DAI and Ca loads of feaces, alleviated colon edema, erosion, and shortening, and lowered the content of β-1,3-glucan in serum and TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum and colon tissues of mice. Transcriptome sequencing revealed 383 DEGs between SHD and model groups, which were mainly involved in the biological processes of immune system, response to bacterium, and innate immune response. They were mainly enriched in the NOD-like signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine interaction pathway, and retinol metabolism pathway. Moreover, SHD down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β. In a word, SHD ameliorates DSS-induced UC in mice colonized with Ca, which probably relates to its regulation of NOD-like receptor signaling pathway.
Animals ; Candida albicans/genetics* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics* ; Colon ; Dextran Sulfate/toxicity* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mice ; Transcriptome