Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of combined therapy with L-carnitine and erythropoietin on renal anemia and nutritional status in patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis.Methods The combination of computer and manual searches were used.A Meta analysis was made regarding the effect of combined therapy with L-carnitine and erythropoietin on the improvement of renal anemia and nutritional status in patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis.The quality of the 9 studies was evaluated with the Jadad score.Statistical analysis was carried out by RevMan 5.0.Results A total of 428 patients in 9 reports were analyzed.Metaanalysis showed that there were significant improvement in hemoglobin (Hb) [WMD =9.21,95％ CI (7.69 ～10.73)] and hematocrit (Hct) [WMD =2.61,95％ CI (2.28 ～ 2.93)],albumin (ALB) [WMD =1.64,95％ CI (1.04 ～ 2.24)] and total protein (TP) [WMD =2.72,95 ％ CI (0.67 ～ 4.77)] in the treatment group compared with the control group.The level of erythropoietin dosage [WMD =-38.24,95％ CI (-76.87 ～ 0.39)] was decreased significantly.But there were no significant differences in triglyceride and serum phosphorus.Conclusion Combined therapy with L-carnitine and erythropoietin in patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis leads to significant improvement of renal anemia and nutritional status.

OBJECTIVE To understand the drug-resistant status of Acinetobacter baumanii and provide scientific basis for infection treatment.METHODS Eight multidrug-resistant A.baumannii(MDR-AB) strains isolated from nosocomial inpatients in intensive care unit(ICU) were collected in May 2007 and tested for drug sensitivity and MIC determination as well.We typed A.baumannii isolates with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE) to determine whether they derived from the same clone.RESULTS Four isolates from nosocomial inpatients were resistant to multiple antibiotics including carbapenem.The PFGE types identified from eight isolates were same.All A.baumannii isolates are closely related.CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of nosocomial infection is due to transmission of the same strains among the patients in ICU.This finding highly suggests that isolate 1 was the source of this nosocomial infection and the problem of hand hygiene maybe the main transmission route.

0.05).(2)CagA-positive H.pylori strains of children were only 21.4%. CONCLUSIONS(1)The detection of protein chips technology against H.pylori infection is compared with antral biopsy specimens.The result is without significant difference.(2)Protein chips technology can discover different types of H.pylori strains infection and determine present infection.It is a rapid,accurate method and can detect more factors.It′s a potential detecting method and worthy of using widely.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of visfatin on matrix metalloproteinases-9(MMP-9)expression and invasive activity in macrophages.Methods THP-1 monocytes were induced into macrophages.To investigate the effects of visfatin on MMP-9,cells were divided into 2 groups:①macrophages+visfatin 12 h;②macrophages+visfatin 24 h.The concentrations of visfatin in each group were:0(control),50,100,200,400 ng/mL.MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression were analysed by RT-PCR and Western blotting,and MMP-9 invasive activity was assayed by gelatin zymography.To investigate the mechanism of visfatin on MMP-9,cells were divided into 5 groups:①macrophages without stimulation(control);②macrophages pretreated with MAPK p38,ERK1/2,JNK pathway inhibitor for 1 h,then stimulated with visfatin(200 ng/mL)for 24 h;③macrophages pretreated with retinoid X receptors(RXR)nature ligand or peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor ?(PPAR?)natural/synthetic ligand for 1 h,then stimulated with visfatin(200 ng/mL)for 24 h;④macrophages stimulated with visfatin(200 ng/mL)for 24 h;⑤macophages+visfatin(200 ng/mL)for different time(5,10,15,30,60 min).MMP-9 expression,PPAR? expression,and the effect of visfatin on MAPK phosphorylation were analysed by Western blotting.Results Visfatin not only significantly enhanced MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression in macrophages(P

Metastatic epidural compression of the spinal cord is a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic cancer. With improvment of oncotheray, survival period in the patients is improving and metastatic cord compression is en- countered increasingly often. Surgical management performed for early circumferential decompression for the spinal cord com- pression with spine instability, and spine reconstruction performed. Patients with radiosensitive tumours without spine instabili- ty, radiotherapy is an effective therapy. Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery and minimally invasive techniques, such as vertebro- plasty and kyphoplasty, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, radiofrequency ablation are promising options for treatment of cer- tain selected patients with spinal metastases.
Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Cord Compression ; therapy ; Spinal Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy

BACKGROUND: Recently biodegradable hydrogel has been extensively used to delivery anticancer drug and bioactive macromolecule. However, to protect the activity of the bioactive macromolecule, we need to obtain series of hydrogel which have milder hydrogelation conditions and shorter hydroglation time.OBJECTIVE: To prepare enantiomeric poly(L-Lactic acid) (PLLA)-poly(ethylene glycol (PEG)-PLLA/ poly(D-Lactic acid) (PDLA)-PEG-PDLA stereocomplex hydrogel which has shorter hydroglation time, to physically encapsulate a model drug-lysozyme and sustained release it from the hydrogel. METHODS: Triblock copolymers of PLLA-PEG-PLLA and PDLA-PEG-PDLA were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L(D)-lactide using PEG as the initiator and Sn(Oct)2 as the catalyst. The triblock copolymers were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, FT-IR and X-Ray diffractometry. A hydrogel was prepared from an aqueous mixture of PLLA20-PEG227-PLLA20 and PDLA21-PEG227-PDLA21 (10 wt% concentration) at room temperature for 12 hours. X-Ray diffractometry test was used to research the gelation mechanism. The release profile of the lysozyme as a model drug from the hydrogel was tested. The morphology of the freeze-dried hydrogel was investigated by scanning electron microscope. The cytotoxicity of the hydrogel was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Triblock copolymers of PLLA-PEG-PLLA and PDLA-PEG-PDLA were obtained. Both the PEG and PLA blocks in the copolymers could crystallize, but the crystallization of the PEG block was predominant. The stereocomplex formation between the PLLA and PDLA blocks within the hydrogel was confirmed by the X-Ray diffractometry analysis. The release profile of the lysozyme from the hydrogel exhibited a sustained-release pattern with a duration period of 7 days. The hydrogel exhibited a 3D interconnected porous structure with 50-100 μm pore size after being freeze-dried. The mouse fibroblast cell viability percentage was 99.3% after the cells contacted with the 100% extracted liquid for 72 hours.

Objective:To evaluate the association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity ( ba-PWV) and metabolic syndrome ( MetS) among the Chinese elderly and the gender difference .Methods:We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in a representative urban area of Beijing , China. A sample of 2 102 community elderly (848 males, and 1 254 females) aged 60 to 95 years were included in the study .MetS was defined according to the 2009 harmonizing definition .Results:The prevalence of MetS was 59.1% (50.1% in males and 65.2% in females, P<0.001).The baPWV value was be-tween 8.2 to 45.6 (20.0 ±4.4) m/s, and showed an increasing trend with age (P<0.001).The par-tial correlation showed baPWV was positively associated with BMI (r =0.076, P =0.037), systolic blood pressure (r=0.380, P<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.276, P<0.001), triglyceride (r=0.040, P=0.046), fasting blood glucose (r=0.140, P<0.001), 2-hour post-meal blood glu-cose (r=0.121, P<0.001), and negatively associated with HDL-C (r=-0.128, P=0.048).There was a strong association between baPWV and prevalence of MetS and its component number in females but not in males .Compared with the lowest quartile of baPWV , the adjusted ORs were 1 .22 ( 95%CI 0.83-1.79), 1.32(95%CI 0.90-1.93), 1.46(95%CI 1.00-2.14) in males and 1.28(95%CI 0.93-1.77), 1.55(95%CI 1.12 -2.16), 1.86(95%CI 1.32-2.61) in females for the second, third and top quartiles .Conclusion:The prevalence of MetS increases substantially with increasing levels of baPWV among the Chinese elderly , especially in females .

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of MRA on the abnormal vessels in Moyamoya and cerebral revascularization , and to evaluate PWI in the observation of cerebral hemodynamics before and after cerebral revascularization.Methods Twenty-four patients with Moyamoya disease ascertained by DSA received cerebral revascularization on one side.MRA and PWI were performed for all patients before and after the operation , while DSA was performed after operation in nine patients to compare the images of MRA and DSA by three experienced radiologists.Perfusion parameters in terminal branches of middle cerebral artery ( MCA) on the operative side were compared with those on the contralateral sides and the cerebellum , including cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT), and delay time ( DT) , as well as relative ratio ( values on the operative side/values on the contralateral side , and values on the operative side/values on the cerebellar region ) of perfusion parameters (rCBF, rCBV, rMTT and rDT) were calculated.Comparisons of the data between different groups were performed using paired Student′s t test.Results MRA was similar to DSA in displaying the internal carotid artery , main branches stenosis, Moyamoya vessels, and cerebral revascularization.DSA was better in displaying collateral vessels than MRA, but primary images of MRA provided anatomic and pathologic information of cerebral parenchyma.After the operations , rCBF (1.30 ±0.27) and rCBV (1.26 ±0.21) of MCA perfusion regions on the operative and the contralateral sides were higher than rCBF (0.73 ±0.15) and rCBV (0.98 ±0.12) before the operation significantly (t=-7.19,-6.64,P<0.05).rMTT (1.06 ±0.20) and rDT (1.07 ± 0.18) after the operation were lower than rMTT(1.53 ±0.34)and rDT (1.40 ±0.26) before the operation (t=5.62,5.40,P<0.05) .In MCA perfusion regions on the operative and cerebellar sides , rCBF(1.93 ± 0.34)and rCBV(2.25 ±0.35)were higher than rCBF(0.88 ±0.18)and rCBV(1.16 ±0.22)(t=-3.04,-3.06,P<0.05) before the operation.rMTT (1.13 ±0.29) and rDT (1.29 ±0.12) were lower than rMTT (1.88 ±0.19 ) and rDT ( 3.29 ±0.47 ) before the operation ( t =4.01, 4.72, P <0.05 ).Conclusions MRA is a safe , reliable method to evaluate abnormal vessels and cerebral revascularization after the operation in moyamoya disease.PWI can detect poor cerebral perfusion , and can be used for assessment of the effect of cerebral revascularization.

A cross-sectional survey of 3589 adolescents was conducted in three cities from different typical geographical zones of Guangdong province. The median urinary iodine concentrations (MUI) of adolescents in Nanxiong, Guangzhou and Maoming were 286.6,204.1 and 166.0μ/L, respectively. The MUI of all these adolescents Was 231.7μg/L, which was slightly higher than the current World Health Organization recommendation.

Objective The predictive value of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) for mortality from all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Chinese population is unclear. The aim of this present study was to compare MetS with its individual components as predictors of mortality in Chinese elderly adults. Methods A cohort of 1,535 subjects (994 men and 541 women) aged 50 years or older was selected from employees of a machinery factory in 1994 and followed until 2009. Cox models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) predicted by MetS according to the harmonized definition and by its individual components. Results The baseline prevalence of MetS was 28.0% in men and 48.4% in women. During a median follow-up of 15 years, 414 deaths occurred, of these, 153 participants died from CVD. Adjusted for age and gender, the HRs of mortality from all-cause and CVD in participants with MetS were 1.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): components. On evaluating the MetS components individually, we found that, independent of MetS, only hypertension and impaired glucose predicted higher mortality. Conclusions The number of positive MetS components seems no more informative than classifying (dichotomous) MetS for CVD risks assessment in this Chinese cohort.