Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; blood ; physiology ; therapeutic use ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans

Objective To analyze the potential factors facilitating post-pyloric placement of spiral naso-jejunum tube in critically ill patients.Methods A retrospective study was carried out in patients requiring enteral nutrition (EN) from Apr 2005 through Dec 2011 in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).Severity of illness was assessed with APACHE Ⅱ score (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ).A selfpropelled spiral naso-jejunum tube was placed and observed for 24 hours.The forward movement and place of the tube tip was checked by bedside X-ray.The APACHE Ⅱ score,therapeutic measures,agents administered within 24 hours after tube insertion were recorded.The patients were divided into the success group and the failure group identified by bedside X-ray whether the tube tip entered into jejunum or not.Univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to find out the potential factors impacting on the success or failure in post-pyloric placement of naso-jejunum tube.Results A total of 508 patients composed of 337 male and 171 female,and aged (62.0 ± 19.2) years with APACHE Ⅱ score of (21.9 ± 7.3) were enrolled for study.The placement was successful in 205 (40.4％) of 508 patients.Univariate analysis showed that APACHE Ⅱ score ≥ 20,sedatives and analgesics,catecholamines,prokinetics,artificial airway and mechanical ventilation were potential factors facilitating the post-pyloric placement of naso-jejunum tube.Multivariate logistic regression identified that APACHE Ⅱ score ≥ 20,sedatives and analgesics and prokinetics were independent factors facilitating the post-pyloric placement of naso-jejunum tube.Conclusions The success rate of self-propelled spiral nasojejunal tubes insertion was relatively low.The prokinetics contributed higher success rate of naso-jejunum tube placement than factors of APACHE Ⅱ score ≥ 20,sedative and analgesic,catecholamine drugs,artificial airway and mechanical ventilation.There were no effects of age and gender on the placement of naso-jejunum tube.

Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; etiology ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; pharmacology ; Diet, Atherogenic ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

Objective To study the proliferation of CRTH2 (CD4+ CD294+ Th2)cells promoted by pneumococcal vaccine through antigen presentation of dendritic cells (DCs),so as to provide a new approach for amplification and sorting of Th2 cells.Methods CDs induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cocultured with T lym-phocytes after loading pneumococcal vaccine antigen,mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR)was detected by cell count-ing kit-8(CCK8),DCs and CRTH2 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Pneumococcal vaccine could promote the maturation of DCs,together with TNF-a,it was adjuvant for maturation of DCs.Pneumococcal vaccine antigen-loaded DCs could increase the rate of subsets of CRTH2 cells on day 5([0.93±0.10]%)compared with day 1([0.70±0.02]%),and absolute number also increased (both P <0.05).Conclusion Amplification of CRTH2 cells can be greatly promoted by pneumococcal vaccine antigen-loaded DCs,which might be one of the effective way to induce amplification of Th2 cells.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, erbB-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the utility of ultrasonographic (US) findings in predicting the subsequent radiographic parameters of developmental dysplasia of the hips. Methods: In this 12-year retrospective cohort study, all new-born infants with a positive clinical examination or risk factors were included. They were scheduled for hip ultrasonography in the first 3 months, and subsequent radiographs at 1 year of life. The US images were evaluated using the Graf classification, Harcke’s dynamic screening method, and Terjesen’s femoral head coverage method. The radiographic images were evaluated using the acetabular index and femoral head position. The overall US or radiographic findings were considered abnormal if they were classified as abnormal for any of their respective parameters. The overall US and radiographic parameters were correlated. Results: A total of 160 patients were included. The overall US and radiographic parameters showed no statistically significant difference (P=0.050). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the overall US parameters were 57.1%, 84.9%, and 81.3%, respectively. All three individual US parameters showed no statistically significant differences, with the overall radiographic findings and acetabular index (P>0.05). However, they showed a statistically significant difference, with the position of the femoral head (P<0.001), with the US parameters having an excellent negative predictive value of 100% for identifying an abnormal femoral head position. Conclusion The current study suggests that US findings evaluated in the first 3 months of life showed no statistically significant difference with radiographic findings evaluated at 1 year of life. The US parameters showed an excellent negative predictive value for abnormal femoral head position on radiographs.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the results of video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed data from 107 patients received thoracoscopic extended thymectomy from June 1995 to June 2004. All patients had confirmed diagnosis of myasthenia gravis by clinical manifestation and electromyogram. Thoracoscopic extended thymectomy as well as dissection of all fatty tissue anterior to the pericardium was performed.

RESULTSDuring a follow-up of 1-98 months, symptom was significantly improved in 83% of patients, including 34 patients experienced complete remission. There was no postoperative mortality.

CONCLUSIONFavorable results of video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy can be achieved in patients with myasthenia gravis. The technique is safe and minimally invasive.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thymectomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of Chinese drug Dahuang Zhechong pill on the hepatocellular function.

METHODThirty-seven patients with hepatocirrhosis and twelve normal controls were performed the hepatobiliary scintgraphy with Tc-99m labeled ethylene hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (99 mTc-EHIDA), and the biochemical examination of hepatic function. There was 19 cases repeated the imaging after 6 months treated with chineses drug. By the three compartmental model configurations, the function parameters of hepatocellular extraction and excretion were calculated.

RESULTIn the hepatocirrhosis groups, the hepatocellular uptake peak time and mean residence index were higher than those in normal controls (P < 0.01). Compared to normal controls, the uptake index, uptake speed index and descendent speed index were decreased markedly (P < 0.05). After treatment for 6 months with Chinese drug, the level of serum transaminase, globulin and bilirubin was lower than that before treatment. The uptake peak time and mean residence index decreased notably after treatment for 6 months (P < 0.01), and the uptake index increased, (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChinese drug Dahuang Zhechong pill may improve the hepatocellular function and liver function status in patients with hepatocirrhosis.

Adult ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Globulins ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transaminases ; blood

BACKGROUNDWe have previously developed and characterized a monoclonal anti-idiotype antibody, designated 6B11, which mimics an ovarian carcinoma associated antigen OC166 - 9 and whose corresponding monoclonal antibody is COC166 - 9 (Ab1). In this study, we evaluate the humoral immune responses induced by the fusion protein 6B11 single-chain variable fragment (scFv)/human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) and 6B11scFv in BALB/c mice.

METHODSThe fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF was constructed by fusing a recombinant single-chain variable fragment of 6B11scFv to GM-CSF. BALB/c mice were administrated by 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF and 6B11scFv, respectively.

RESULTSThe fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF retained binding to the anti-mouse F (ab) 2' and was also biologically active as measured by proliferation of human GM-CSF dependent cell TF1 in vitro. After immunization with the 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF and 6B11ScFv, BALB/c mice showed significantly enhanced Ab3 antibody responses to 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF compared with the 6B11scFv alone. The level of Ab3 was the highest after the first week and maintained for five weeks after the last immunization. Another booster was given when the Ab3 titer descended, and it would reach to the high level in a week.

CONCLUSIONThe fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF can induce humoral immunity against ovarian carcinoma in vivo. We also provide the theoretical foundation for the application of the fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF for active immunotherapy of ovarian cancer.

Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; immunology ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; blood ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology

This article summarized the clinical experience of Professor WANG Meng-yong in treating lupus nephritis from the symptoms and essence. Professor WANG Meng-yong believes that treatment for lupus nephritis should attach importance to clinical features of setting deficiency of liver, spleen and kidney as the essence and toxin and blood stasisas symptoms, in which the essence is deficient and the symptoms are excess and combination of external and internal pathogenesis. He flexibly uses methods of nourishing liver and kidney, tonifying spleen, and stomach, clearing heat and cooling blood, activating blood and promoting diuresis to alleviate water retention, which have obvious efficacy, effectively avoid adverse reactions and reduce the risk of recurrence, and improve patient prognosis.