Humans ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Tract Infections

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum interleukin 6( IL-6 ),tumor necrosis factor α( TNF-α)and C reaction protein( CRP)levels and smoking and body mass index( BMI)in the elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD ). Methods Elderly participants including 50 cases smokers with stable COPD,45 cases ex-smokers with stable COPD and 40 cases healthy ex-smokers were recruited in this study,who were hospitalized in the People's Hospital of Gansu Province from Dec. 2012 to Feb. 2014. Serum IL-6,TNF-α and CRP levels were detected. Correlation analysis was performed between serum IL-6,TNF-α,CRP levels and smoking index( SI),BMI in COPD smokers. Results The levels of serum IL-6,TNF-α and CRP in smoking group were(45. 9 ± 12. 1)mg/L,(58. 2 ± 15. 8)ng/L,(12. 2 ± 4. 1) mg/L,significantly higher than those in stop-smoking group((38. 1 ± 9. 6)mg/L,(45. 9 ± 11. 2)ng/L,(8. 6 ±3. 2)mg/L respectively),and healthy controls group((17. 0 ± 9. 9)mg/L,(27. 3 ± 13. 2)ng/L,(6. 3 ±5. 2)mg/L),and the differences were significant(F=84. 934,57. 224,23. 023;P﹤0. 01). In patients with smoking index≥400,the levels of serum IL-6,TNF-α and CRP were(50. 1 ± 12. 1)mg/L,(64. 2 ± 12. 6) ng/L,(13. 4 ± 3. 7)mg/L,significantly higher than those in patients with SI ﹤400 group((41. 0 ± 10. 2) mg/L,(47. 8 ± 14. 0)ng/L,(10. 8 ± 4. 2)mg/L respectively),and the differences were significant( t=2. 845, 4. 343,2. 347;P ﹤0. 01 or P ﹤0. 05 ). The levels of serum IL-6,TNF-α and CRP in smoking group were positively correlated with SI(r=0. 458,0. 438,0. 313;P﹤0. 01 or P﹤0. 05). The levels of serum IL-6,TNF-αwere negatively correlated with BMI,and the correlation coefficient were - 0. 358,- 0. 319( P ﹤0. 05). Conclusion The increase of serum IL-6,TNF-αand CRP caused by smoking may play an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. And chronic smoking is the reason of the decline of BMI in COPD patients,and the decline of BMI is related to the high levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α.

Adolescent ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Child ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Life Style ; Obesity ; complications ; prevention & control ; Primary Prevention ; Risk Factors

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture plus drug anesthesia on pain and stress response in patients after radical surgery for stomach cancer.Methods: A total of 60 patients were randomized into a control group and an observation group by the random number table, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was given conventional drug anesthesia. The observation group was given additional electroacupuncture intervention. Before anesthesia and 2 h, 12 h and 24 h after surgery, the visual analog scale (VAS) was scored, the heart rate, the mean arterial pressure, and the levels of serum β-endorphin (β-EP) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) were measured. Results: Two hours, 12 h and 24 h after surgery, the VAS scores of both groups were higher than those before anesthesia (all P<0.05), and the VAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group at the same time points (all P<0.05). Two hours, 12 h and 24 h after surgery, the heart rates and mean arterial pressures in the control group were significantly higher than those before anesthesia (all P<0.05), while there were no significant intra-group differences in the observation group (all P>0.05), and the indicators were lower than those in the control group at the same time points (all P<0.05). Two hours, 12 h and 24 h after surgery, the serum β-EP levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those before anesthesia (all P<0.05), and significantly higher than those in the control group at the same time points (all P<0.05). Two hours, 12 h and 24 h after surgery, the serum ACTH levels in the control group were significantly higher than those before anesthesia (all P<0.05), and were significantly higher than those in the observation group at the same time points (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture plus drug anesthesia can significantly relieve pain and stress response in patients after radical surgery for stomach cancer.

Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; physiology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; physiology ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Objective To apply six sigma management method to optimizing flow,enhancing treatment quality,prolonging service life and decreasing purchase cost of the non-coated surgical instrument.Methods The treatment flow of the noncoated surgical instrument was optimized through five steps of six sigma method including defining,measuring,analyzing,improving and controlling.The treatment results before and after flow optimization were compared,analyzed and evaluated.Results The rates for corrosion and rejection were both decreased significantly after flow optimization,while the quality was increased obviously (P＜0.05).Conclusion Six sigma management method involved in the treatment of the non-coated surgical instrument saves purchase cost,enhances the efficiency of disinfection supply room and facilitates effective supervision and monitoring.

Objective To explore the differential expression of low molecular weight proteins in serum of ischemic stroke patients.Methods Serum samples obtained from ischemic stroke patients (n=33) and normal controls (n=39) were analyzed by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The severity of stroke was assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and functional outcome was assessed with modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results 55 peaks were significantly different between ischemic stroke patients and the controls (P<0.05). There were 7 peaks between 1000~2000 Da, 4 increased peaks and 3 induced peaks in serum of ischemic stroke patients. One induced peak at 1864(m/z) had highest peak intensity in controls and induced significantly in ischemic stroke patients. While induce degree of this peak didn't correlate with the NIHSS, mRS, stroke risk factors and laboratory data. Conclusion The application of this potential biomarker is not restricted to certain subgroups of ischemic stroke patients,so it may serve as one reverse direction biomarker and provide support for early diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke.

Background: Nummular headache is a new category of primary headache disorder characterized by consistent location, size, and shape of painful areas. The pathogenesis is uncertain. Bifocal painful areas are rare manifestations but may expand the clinical diversity of nummular headache. Methods: The clinical characteristics of 5 bifocal nummular headache patients were reported and those of 11 patients in previous studies were reviewed. Bifocal nummular headache was classifi ed into two types. Type I was defi ned as a simultaneous activation of two painful areas while type II was defi ned as two painful areas occurring in different times. Results: All 16 patients were female, with mean age of onset and initial presentation of 54.7 years and 58.2 years, respectively. There were seven type I and nine type II patients. The parietal area, especially the tuber parietale, was the leading site of involvement in both types of patients. The shape and size of painful areas were also similar between these two groups. There was an equal frequency of ipsilateral and contralateral painful areas. The pain intensity was similar in both types of patients but was milder in new painful areas than in previous painful areas in type II patients. Conclusions: Bifocal nummular headache suggests a central role of nummular headache but does not debunk the peripheral theory of nummular headache. The accumulated fi ndings in bifocal NH patients do not support a generalization of pain occurrence or a reproduction of local process of epicranial neuralgia at multiple sites in nummular headache.

Adult ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Vanadium ; toxicity

Objective To identify a rapid and efficient fungal genomic DNA extraction method for PCR amplification.Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from Penicillum marneffei,Rhizopus microsporus,Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans by heating pyrolysis,microwave,repeated freezing and thawing,lysozyme digestion,overnight snail enzymatic and Qiagen kit methods.DNA electrophoretogram was observed by gel imaging system.The concentration and purity of extracted DNA were determined with an ultramicro nucleic acid protein tester and the yields were calculated.PCR amplification and sequencing were also performed.ANOVA and SNK-q test were used for data analysis.Results There were statistical differences in concentrations and yields of the fungal DNA extracted from Penicillum marneffei (hyphal phase and yeast phase),Rhizopus microsporus,Coptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans by six methods (F=750.83,220.95,669.35,132.01,510.20 and 1658.35,287.10,963.64,1147.77,4521.22,all P ＜0.01).Of six methods,microwave method gained the highest DNA concentration and yield,followed by heating pyrolysis method,while Qiagen kit method obtained the lowest concentration and yield.All DNA extracted by 6 kinds of methods were positive in PCR amplification.Conclusion All of the six methods can be used for fungal DNA extraction which is sufficient for PCR amplification,but microwave and heating pyrolysis methods are more easy and simple to perform.