Objective To evaluate immune function of patients with multiple myeloma ( MM) by detect the changes of the Treg cells in bone marrow of patients with MM .Methods Treg cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow of 45 patients with MM and 15 healthy controls were measured by flow cytometry .Results The per-centage of Treg cells in peripheral blood of MM was higher than that in healthy person ;The percentage of Treg cells in MM bone marrow was lower than that in healthy person ,and the extent was positively correlated with the level of β2-MG and ISS(P<0.05).Conclusion MM Patients display an abnormal level of CD 4 +CD25 +Treg cells,which may be an important mechanism of MM immune deficiency .

ObjectiveTo probe the clinical features,diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic generalized myokymia.MethodsSeven patients with idiopathic generalized myokymia were analysed retrospectively.ResultsAll 7 patients showed prominent myokymia characterized by undulating and vermicular movements spreading across the muscle surface. The myokymia in gastrocnemius muscles in all cases. The myokymia also appeared in both upper extremities in 5 patients,and in faces,waist,back,abdomen and all extremities in 2 patients. Muscle rippling movement was induced and increased by exercise,and persistent during sleep. The vermicular myokymia could be observed easily in the relaxation of the muscles. Electromyography tests showed myokymic discharges in 5 patients,but normal in 2 patients. 5 patients of them were cured with carbamazepine and phenytoin sodium.ConclusionThere are typical clinical features and effective treatment in the patients with idiopathic generalized myokymia.

Objective To detect the levels of CD31+/CD42b- and CD144+ endothelial microparticles (EMPs)in plasma,and analyze the relationship with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT)and the risk factors of atherosclerosis.Methods Totally 122 outpatients and inpatients in our hospital were selected,and carotid artery ultrasound examination was performed.The results were divided into a thickening group (62 cases)and a control group (60 cases).Flow cytometry was used to detect the levels of CD31+/CD42b- and CD144+ EMPs in the blood to analyze the relationship between the level of endothelial cells and CIMT,and to investigate the relationship between the level of plasma EMPs and the risk factors of atherosclerosis.Results Compared with the control group,the levels of EMPs of CD31+/CD42b- and CD144+ were significantly higher.In the correlation analysis, plasma CD31+/CD42b- and CD144+EMPs levels were positively correlated with CIMT;in multi-factor Logistic regression analysis,CD31+/CD42b- EMPs levels were correlated positively with age,TC and Cys C;plasma CD144+ EMPs levels were correlated with UA and BMI.Conclusion The levels of CD31+/CD42b-,CD144+EMPs in plasma were correlated with CIMT,guiding early prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To quantitatively analyze and compare the texture features of thermal and chemical lesions on the porcine striated muscle, in vitro extracted from high-frequency ultrasonograms using computer-assisted image analysis technique, and to investigate the application values. Methods The thermal lesion and chemical lesion were induced in vitro in porcine striated muscle by microwave ablation and anhydrous acetic acid injection, respectively. The two dimension (2D) ultrasonographic ifndings were qualitatively compared between the groups of thermal and chemical lesion models, in which eight textural features in geometric mathematics extracted from 2D ultrasonograms were quantitatively analyzed by a technique of computer-assisted image analysis named multiscale decomposition method of echo intensity of interface relfections. Results As expected, microwave ablation and anhydrous acetic acid caused signiifcant changes of several texture features extracted from ultrasonograms. There were significant differences between the normal group and microwave ablation group in grayscale mean (Mean), irregularity (IRGL) and periodicity of distribution (POD) as follows (Mean: 1.9143±0.2914 vs 1.2334±0.3357, t=-5.306, P=0.000; IRGL: 0.5577±0.0334 vs 0.5092±0.0459, t=-2.957, P=0.007; POD: 0.000 27±0.000 005 vs 0.000 29±0.000 008, t=4.782, P=0.000). There were signiifcant differences between the normal group and anhydrous acetic acid injection group in number of blobs (NOB), size of blobs (SOB) and periodicity of distribution (POD) as follows (NOB: 51.0324±13.6998 vs 31.6042±4.8315, t=4.633, P=0.000; SOB:16.4843±3.9349 vs 25.6230±2.3555, t=6.903, P=0.000;POD:0.000 26±0.000 015 vs 0.000 29±0.000 008, t=-4.459, P=0.000). For each group of injured regions, there were significant differences between the microwave ablation group and anhydrous acetic acid injection group in Mean, IRGL, NOB and SOB as follows (Mean: 1.2664±0.2688 vs 1.9143±0.2914, t=-5.661, P=0.000; IRGL: 0.5220±0.0422 vs 0.5577±0.0334, t=-2.295, P=0.032;NOB:51.0324±13.6998 vs 34.5856±2.6362, t=4.048, P=0.000;SOB:16.4843±3.9349 vs 25.3176±2.3501, t=-6.676, P=0.000). Conclusion Technique of computer-assisted image analysis named multiscale decomposition method of echo intensity of interface relfections, based on multiscale blob features extraction, was useful to differentiate ultrasonic texture features between the groups injured in our study, which established quantitative muscle ultrasound as a practical and reliable tool for the muscle injury diagnosis to distinguish the structural changes induced by different physiochemical factors.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L ) and lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2 ) in the assessment of coronary artery severity and risk classification in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).Methods Of the 9 6 patients with coronary heart disease diagnosed by coronary angiography,2 8 patients had stable angina pectoris (SAP),38 patients unstable angina pectoris (UAP)and 30 patients acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).Another 30 patients with non-coronary heart disease (NC)served as controls.The sCD40L and Lp-PLA2 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA)method.The Gensini score was used to assess the severity of coronary artery and analyze the correlation with sCD40L and Lp-PLA2.The correlation of sCD40L and Lp-PLA2 with GRACE risk score was analyzed too.Results ① sCD40L was significantly higher in NSTEMI and UAP groups than in SAP and NC groups (P<0 .0 5 ),but there was no significant difference between NSTEMI and UAP groups (P>0 .0 5 )or SAP and NC groups (P>0 .0 5 ).Lp-PLA2 was significantly higher in NSTEMI group than in UAP,SAP and NC groups (P<0.05).Lp-PLA2 was significantly higher in UAP group than in SAP and NC groups (P<0.05).② We found that sCD40L had obvious correlation with Lp-PLA2 (r=0.284, P<0.01),Gensini score (r=0.213,P<0.05),and GRACE (r=0.224,P<0.05).Lp-PLA2 was significantly correlated with Gensini score (r=0.270,P<0.05),and GRACE (r=0.323,P<0.01).③ Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Lp-PLA2 was independently associated with NSTE-ACS (P<0.05).Conclusion The sCD40L and Lp-PLA2 which were significantly elevated in NSTE-ACS are correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease.The two indexes indicate the instability of atherosclerotic plaque;thus they can be used as predictors of risk assessment in coronary heart disease.

Preventive maintenance of medical equipment can be helpful in improving the efficiency of medical devices, establishing a standardized management and plan, a classification of maintenance of medical devices, inspection tour of devices and operating condition of dynamic monitoring devices. It has benefit in prolonging the useful life of medical devices, reducing maintenance cost and improving management and service quality.
Equipment Safety ; methods ; Equipment and Supplies ; standards ; Maintenance ; Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital ; Safety Management ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of glucocorticoid receptor antagonist-M8046 on the behavior and the cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2( COX-2/PGE2) expression in spinal cord dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in chronic constrictive injury (CCI) rats.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 36 rats in each group: Sham operation group (Sham), chronic constrictive group (CCI), M8046 treated group (M8046) and solvent controlled group (Sc). M8046 3 mg/(kg x d) intraperitoneal injection was given after operation in group M8046. Paw thennal withdrawal (PTWL) and paw mechanical withdrawal threshold (PMWT) of rats were measured on 2 pre-operative and 1, 3, 7, 10, 14 post-operative days. The spinal cord and L15 DRG of the operated side was removed at 3, 7, 14 days after surgery. The change of COX-2 and PGE2 expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining and ELISA separately.

RESULTSPTWL and PMWT in CCI group were significantly lower than those in Sham group on every post-operative day (P < 0.05). PTWL and PMWT in M8046 group were significantly higher than those in CCI group on 7, 10, 14 post-operative day (P < 0.05). In spinal dorsal horn, the level of COX-2 and PGE2 expression in CCI group was significantly higher than that in Sham group (P < 0.05). M8046 could significantly attenuate the activation of COX-2 and PGE2 induced by CCI (P < 0.05). The expression of COX-2 and PGE2 in DRG was similar to that in spinal dorsal horn.

CONCLUSIONThe effects of M8046 ameliorate the CCI-induced neuropathic pain may be related to attenuate the expression of COX-2 and PGE2 in spinal cord and DRG.

Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuralgia ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective: To explore the prevalence and risk factors of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in elderly hypertension patients. Methods: A total of 532 retired hypertension patients elder than 65 years in Guangzhou military region were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Hypertension group, n=414 and Hypertension combining OH (H+OH) group, n=118. The patient's age (65-79、≥ 80), hypertension grade (Grade 1-3) and complication status were studied. The risk factors for H+OH prevalence were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results: The incidence rate of H+OH was 22.2％ (118/532). In H+OH group, the ratios of elderly and very elderly patients were 6.7％ and 23.1％, P<0.05 and the ratios of OH occurrence for hypertension grade 1, 2 and 3 were 12.6％, 23.3％ and 25.2％ respectively, P<0.05. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis presented that systolic blood pressure (BP) in supine position, BP at immediate standing, heart rate in supine position, heart rate after 2 minutes standing and chronic cardiac insufficiency were the impact factors for H+OH occurrence, P<0.05. Conclusion: In elderly hypertension patients, incidence of OH was increasing with age elevating; H+OH has been related to age, severity of hypertension and chronic cardiac insufficiency.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and value of determining myocardial perfusion and regional systolic function by myocardial contrast stress echocardiography (MCSE) with computer-assisted technique in a rabbit model of ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODSRabbits underwent 30-(Group I, n = 15) and 120-(Group II, n = 15) minute left ventricular branch of the left circumflex coronary artery occlusion foll owed by 60-minute reperfusion, dobutamine at increasing doses (5, 10, 15 and 20 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)) was then infused after reperfusion for 15 min. Bolus myocardial contrast agent was injected and MCSE performed at baseline, at the end of coronary occlusion and reperfusion, at the end of each dobutamine infusion. Images were analyzed by computer-assisted technique and myocardial calibrated contrast intensity (CI) of each segment was measured and a color-coded map was then obtained automatically (yellow: from 0 to -20 pix, blue:from -21 to -40 pix, green: from -41 to -70 pix, red: < -70 pix). The area at risk and infarct area obtained by red-coded map were compared with ex vivo results determined by fluorescent microsphere and triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Percentage wall thickening (WT) of each risk segment at each stage were also measured.

RESULTS(1) During occlusion, WT in the areas at risk decreased to zero or negative and the calibrated CI values were significantly lower than those at baseline. Area at risk obtained by red-coded map correlated well with that obtained by fluorescent staining (r = 0.91, P < 0.01). (2) After reperfusion and 5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) dobutamine administration, WT and calibrated CI in all rabbits remained depressed. Calibrated CI at -70 pix was an optimal cutoff point to identify infarcted segments (sensitivity 95%, specificity 87%). The correlation between the infarct size by red-coded image and TTC was 0.89 (P < 0.01). (3) Calibrated CI and WT significantly improved in Group I rabbits while these parameters remained unchanged in Group II rabbits after increasing doses of dobutamine post ischemia.

CONCLUSIONSMyocardial contrast stress echocardiography in combination with computer-assisted analysis technique are valuable techniques to quantitatively assess myocardial perfusion and regional systolic function and exactly identify stunned myocardium and infarcted myocardium.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Echocardiography, Stress ; methods ; Female ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Rabbits

BACKGROUNDCompensatory sweating (CS) is one of the most common postoperative complications after thoracic sympathectomy, sympathicotomy or endoscopic sympathetic block (ESB) for palmar hyperhidrosis. This study was conducted to examine the relevance between CS and the sympathetic segment being transected in the surgical treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis, and thus to detect the potential mechanism of the occurrence of CS.

METHODSBetween October 2004 and June 2006, 163 patients with primary hyperhidrosis were randomly divided into two groups, T(3) sympathicotomy (78 patients) and T(4) sympathicotomy (85), who were operated upon under general anesthesia via single lumen intubation and intercostal video-mediastinoscopy (VM).

RESULTSNo morbidity or mortality occurred. Palmar hyperhidrosis was cured in all patients. Follow-up (mean (13.8 +/- 6.2) months) showed no recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis. The difference of rates of mild CS in groups T(3) and T(4) was of no statistical significance. The rate of moderate CS was significantly lower in group T(4) than in group T(3). No severe CS occurred.

CONCLUSIONThe rates of occurrence and severity of CS are lowered with the lower sympathetic chain being transected.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted