A survey was carried out from August to December 2004 in Pusan, Korea to document the presence of free-living amoeba (FLA), including the genus Acanthamoeba, in both contact lens storage cases and domestic tap water. Acanthamoeba was isolated from 5 (4.2%) in 120 contact lens storage cases. Four house tap water samples from residents, whose contact lens storage cases had been contaminated by Acanthamoeba, were also found to be contaminated with Acanthamoeba. Therefore, the contamination rate of FLA and Acanthamoeba in domestic tap water was investigated in order to examine the role of domestic tap water in Acanthamoeba contamination of contact lens storage cases. FLA and Acanthamoeba were identified in 97 (46.8%) and 16 (7.7%) of the 207 domestic tap water samples, respectively. There were no significant differences between the contamination rates of FLA in tap water according to the filtration plant of origin. No FLA was detected in the tap water directly supplied by the water purification plants. Water storage tanks appear to promote FLA colonization, including Acanthamoeba, in domestic tap water. This increases the risk of Acanthamoeba contamination in contact lens storage cases as well as increasing the risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Acanthamoeba/*isolation & purification ; Amebiasis/epidemiology ; Animals ; Comparative Study ; Contact Lenses/parasitology ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Risk Factors ; Water/*parasitology ; Water Supply/*standards

Objective To investigate the effects of artervenous fistula on structure and function of heart in patients with hemodialysis in the Second Clinical Hospital of Chinese Medical University from 2004 to 2005.Methods AVF、LAD、RVD、LVD、LVEDV、SV and EF were examined and analysed before and 8 weeks after AVF in 55 patients with hemodialysis.Results LAD、RVD、LVD、LVEDV after AVF increased significantly and EF reduced evidently after AVF.Conclusion AVF can cause extension of LAD、 RVD、 LVD and decrease of EF.

AIM:To investigate the apoptotic pathway of MCF-7 breast cancer induced by the grub extract in vitro.METHODS:MTT assay was used to determine the effect of the grub extract on proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line and cell toxicity.Morphological changes of the apoptosis in cancer cells were observed by HE staining through invert microscope,light microscope,AO/EB double fluorescent staining under fluorescent microscope.FCM was used to assay the change of apoptotic rate.The expression of Bcl-2,Fas,caspase-9,caspase-3 in apoptotic pathway was detected with immunocytochemical method before and after exposure to the grub extract,and the effect of that on apoptotic pathway was explored.RESULTS:(1)The MTT test showed that the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line was significantly inhibited by the grub extract in dose and time dependent manners.The inhibitory rate in exposure group was significantly different from that in control group(P

Anthracosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Imipenem ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pseudomonas Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Heart Disease ; complications ; microbiology

The new generation cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor could reduce the gastrointestinal side effect of NSAID drugs, but eventually increase the cardiovascular risk, because its selective inhibition of COX-2 induces the imbalance between PGI2 and TXA2 and the reduction of vasodilatory NO. Under pathological conditions, active oxygen species (O2-*2, etc) were used to induce endo- thelial dysfunction, activate NF-κB to induce expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, increase ET-1, TXA2 with vasoconstrictor effect, reduce PGI2 and NO with vasodilatory effect, generate further oxidative damage together with NO, and reduce the bioavailability of NO. NO-NSAIDs and NO-Coxibs drugs raised the level of NO by introducing NO-donor (ONO2). NSAIDs drugs enhanced the anti-inflammatory activity of COX-2 and reduced gastrointestinal side effects by inhibiting selectively COX-2. If antioxidant structures with active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines were introduced to improve the antioxidant activity of NSAIDs, they could scavenge the active oxygen species to protect the normal function of vascular endothelia and enhance the bioavailability of NO, which is conducive to enhance the cardiovascular safety of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Pharmacological ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; immunology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of endoluminal grafting for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms in high-risk patients with serious co-morbidities.Methods Endoluminal stent grafting was performed in fifty-one patients(45 males and 6 females,with a mean age of 71.6±7.5 years)with abdominal aortic aneurysms.Of all the patients,21(37.7%)were high-risk surgical candidates because of associated co-morbidities.These patients were classified in grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ according to the criteria assigned by the"Society for Vascular Surgery"and"International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery".Based on the preoperative CT and DSA findings,the appropriate stent was selected for every patient.Post-operative clinical observation and CT scan were regularly carried out,the occurrence of complications and the morphological changes of the aneurysms were observed.The results were evaluated and analyzed.Results Primary technical success was achieved in all patients(100%).No death occurred during the procedure or in 30 days after the procedure.An average follow-up period of(29.1±20.5)months was made.Minor endoleak was noted on CT scans in 10 patients,and the endoleak disappeared in 5 patients during the follow-up period.One patient died from unknown cause.The total mortality rate was 2.0%(1/51).The major complications rate was 9.8%(5/51),including stent thrombosis(n=2),thrombosis at femoral artery(n=1),lymphatic fistula at femoral incision(n=1) and stent dislocation(n=1).Conclusion Endoluminal stent grafting is a safe and feasible technique for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms with excellent medium-term results.This technique is especially suitable for the patients with high surgical risk.

Objectives To study the psychological characteristics of children with attention deifcit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Human ifgure drawings (HFD) as a projective technique was performed in 107 children with ADHD aged (8.69 ±1.48) years old (6.5~11.5 years), and 107 matched healthy children. Characteristic features of the HFDs in children with ADHD, and correlations between emotional indicators of the HFDs and factors of child behavior checklist (CBCL) were assessed and com-pared with the control group. Results Signiifcant differences in emotional index were found between ADHD and healthy chil-dren, including bad body composition, short arms, long arms, big ifgure, omission of hands and omission of feet (P<0.05). Nega-tive correlation was found between the HFDs emotional index and the factors of activity and social ability in the CBCL (P<0.05), but a positive correlation was found between the HFDs emotional index and behavioral problem (P<0.05). Conclusion Human ifgure drawings can relfect some emotional characteristics of children with ADHD, and when combined with CBCL, it can pro-vide evidence for diagnosis and intervention for ADHD.

Objective To evaluate the effects of different sedation depths of propofol on brain injury in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Forty-five ASA physical status Ⅲ or Ⅳ patients of both sexes,aged 26-64 yr,weighing 50-85 kg,scheduled for elective cardiac valve replacement with CPB,were divided into 3 groups according to intraoperative sedation depths (n =15each):30 ≤ bispectral index (BIS) value ＜ 40 (group A) ; 40 ≤ BIS value ≤ 50 (group B) ; 50 ＜ BIS value ≤ 60(group C).Anesthesia was induced with iv injection of lidocaine,midazolam,sulfentanil,etomidate and vecuronium.The patients were tracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated.PET CO2 was maintained at 35-45 mm Hg.Anesthesia was maintained with iv infusion of propofol at a rate of 7,5 and 3 mg· kg-1 · h-1 in A,B and C groups,respectively,intermittent iv boluses of sulfentanil and pipecuronium,and intermittent inhalation of sevoflurane.The infusion rate of propofol was adjusted to maintain the corresponding anesthesic depth in each group.Before CPB (T1),at 30 min of CPB (T2),immediately after termination of CPB (T3) and at 1 h after the end of CPB (T4),blood samples were obtained from the jugular bulb vein and radial artery for determination of plasma S-100β protein concentration and for blood gas analysis,and the arterial to venous blood oxygen content difference (Dj-aO2),cerebral O2 extraction rate (CERO2) and jugular bulb venous to arterial blood lactic acid content difference (Dj-aL) were calculated.Results Compared with group C,the plasma S-100β protein concentrations were significantly decreased,SjvO2 was increased,and Dj-aO2 and CERO2 were decreased at T3-4,and Da-jL was decreased at T3 in groups A and B (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group B,the plasma S-100β protein concentrations were significantly decreased at T3-4,SjvO2 was increased at T2,Da-jO2 and CERO2 were decreased at T2,and DajL was decreased at T3 in group A (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Moderately deepened anesthetic depth of propofol (30≤ BIS value ＜ 40) is helpful in attenuating the brain injury in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with CPB.

Objective To explore the feasibility of the double venipuncture instead of central venous catheter as a temporary vascular access in hemodialysis.Methods The upper arm below the 1/3 was tied a tourniquet,and fistula needle directly punctured the vein in the middle of the elbow.After the success of the puncture,elastic bandage was replaced by a tourniquet,and the ball movement was done by imitating the blood donation member for blood donation at hand gripping a ball or elements as the artery blood lead.Another elbow vein or lower limb saphenous vein was punctured.Thirty patients using double venipuncture dialysis or central venous catheter dialysis 2 weeks or more were randomly selected into each group,and biochemical and renal function was measured before dialysis.Results All of 1 282 patients who were newly into the blood dialysis,mature arteriovenous fistula was in 8 patients (0.6％,8/1 282),deep venipuncture to insert the central venous catheter was in 542 patients(42.3％,542/1 282),using the double venipuncture was in 732 patients (57.1％,732/1 282).The flow of blood was 180-200 ml/min,the avalible time was 1-2 months.The serum creatinine,blood urea nitrogen,calcium,phosphorus and carbon dioxide combining power had no significant difference between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The majority of patients with double venipuncture blood flow can satisfy the need of dialysis.Because the operation is simple,no recycling and may reduce the deep venipuncture,it is an ideal temporary vascular access.

Objective To investigate the value of the multiple short tandem repeat (STR)amplification by fluorescence labeling polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with fusion gene bcr-abl mRNA expression for quantitative determination of chimerism and qualitative detection of bcr-abl transcripts,and to evaluate the status of engraftment and predict the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods 5 relapse patients with CML after alIo-HSCT were dynamically investigated. Quantitative analysis of donor chimerism was performed by multiplex PCR amplification of STR markers and capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection, qualitative detection of bcr-abl transcripts was performed by RT-PCR. Results The donors alleles appeared in all of 5 patients on day 28 post transplant, and bcr-abl expression was negative. But 5 patients had unstable mixed ehimerism. (DC: 0～80.4 %) at the different time points after aIIo-HSCT and bcr-abl was positive. One of them kept eontinuely the mixed chimerism in the relapse of disease, and died after one year, and the other changed from MC to CC by intervention of clinical treatment. Reduction of donor chimerism were detected prior to the occurrence of graft rejection and disease relapse, while bcr-abl gene expression was positive. Conclusion The results of STR-PCR in the range of its sensitivity fully correspond with bcr-abl tests in patients with CML. The combination of STR-PCR with RT-PCR provides a highly sensitive and valuable tool for engraftment evaluation, graft rejection, relapse and predicting GVHD. Furthermore it can provide a basis for early intervention of clinical treatment, and can identify these patients at high risk with molecular or cytogenetic relapse after allo-HSCT.