Abstract Objective To compare the quality of life in long-term hemodialysis patients using tunnel cuffed catheter with arterio-venous fistula. Methods Thirty patients using tunnel cuffed catheter (catheter group) and another 30 patients using arterio-venous fistula (fistula group) were observed. The rate of infection,thrombus and blood flow were recorded. The lab examinations such as blood urea nitrogen,creatinine,serum electrolyte,hemoglobin, C reactive protein, parathyrine, β2 microglobulin were measured,subjective global assessment (SGA) was made, KT/V and urea reduction ratio (URR) were calculated.Quality of life was surveyed with KDQOL-SFTM questionnaire and to conduct comparative analysis. Results KT/V was 1.49 ± 0.25 in catheter group, and 1.45 ± 0.28 in fistula group, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The lab examinations and SGA were similar in two groups. There were no significant difference of quality of life between the two groups except for pain (the score in catheter group was significantly higher than that in fistula group). The rate of infection was significantly higher in catheter group than that in fistula group. The rate of thrombus was similar in two groups. Conclusions As alternative of fistula in patients whose fistula could not be established, the tunnel cuffed catheter could give adequate dialysis and satisfactory quality of life,and is predominating in pain-reducing. The rates of infection and thrombus are decreased, but maintain the important problems to be solved.

Objective To investigate the effect of hypert riglyceridemia on vascular endothelial function. Methods With high-resolution ultrasound, flow and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation of the brachial artery were determined in thirty hypertriglyceridemic patients and thirty healthy subjects as controls. Serum lipid and plasma endothelin (ET) were determined. Results In patients with hypertriglyceridemia,flow-induced vasodilatation was much reduced compared with that in the control subjects[(2.7±2.0)% vs (15.0±8.0)%, P<0.001］.However, vasodilatation in response to nitroglycerin were similar in both groups［(15.0±5.0)% vs (16.8±9.0)%, P>0.05].Plasma ET level in the hypertriglyceridemic group was significantly higher than that in the control group［(106.22±19.16) μg/L vs (72.37±14.06) μg/L, P<0.001].ConclusionEndothelium-dependent vasodilatation was impaired in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

Objective To explore main technical points and clinical efficacy of individualized stepwise multiple embolization treatment for refractory hemoptysis. Methods To retrospectively analyze materials of 103 patients treated by individualized stepwise multiple embolization. According to disease categories, individualized stepwise multiple embolization treatment with polyvinyl alcohol and loaded sodium alginate microspheres as basic embolization agent were performed, after the type, number, abnormal branches, pulmonary circulation and systematic pulmonary shunt of targeted vessels were confirmed through radiography. To judge short(less than 3 months), medium(3 to 6 months) and long term(more than 6 months) efficacy, resolution of hemoptysis after operation were assessed. To evaluate efficacy of individualized stepwise multiple embolization treatment for refractory hemoptysis, Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used. According to the features of target vessels to supply blood, patients were classified into with SPS and without SPS. By using Log-Rank test, the effective rates of one-year were compared between them. Results Out of 103 patients, 215 target vessels were demonstrated, among which individualized stepwise multiple embolization was for 196 target vessels, peripheral embolization for 8 vessels, and main trunk embolization in 11 patients. The visits after operation were made to 103 patients after 6 to 50 months, with the medium of 21 months. Hemoptysis was instantly resolved in 97.1%(100/103). The effective rates were 94.5%,93.2%, 89.7%,88.9%,85.2%and 76.6%for one, three, six months and one, two and three years after operation. In 103 patients, patients with SPS were 22 and without SPS were 81. One-year effective rates with and without SPS were (69.50 ± 0.11)% and (98.30 ± 0.03)% , respectively (χ2=11.662,P<0.01). Conclusion Individualized stepwise multiple embolization treatment shows excellent short-term and mid-long term efficacy in the treatment of refractory hemoptysis.

The characteristics of onset time of cough variant asthma (CVA) match with the human hypnagogic and arousal time nodes, which are also in accordance with the time of defensive qi entering yin and exiting yang of human body. Reviewing the generation and physiological function of defensive qi, we hold that the onset of CVA is related to the lung, the spleen and the kidney. Deficiency of the three viscera leads to defi ciency of defensive qi defi ciency, and blockade of the circulation pathway of defensive qi on body surface, thus interaction of the two factors results in the special time nods of CVA’s onset, which is also the basic pathomechenism of CVA.

Objective To explore the recyclability and safety of Celect retrievable filter placement in the prevention of pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis(DVT).Methods The data of 120 DVT patients with Celect retrievable filter were collected from the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from August 2015 to March 2017 and analyzed retrospectively. The Celect filter was placed in the inferior vena cava(IVC)at the inferior margin of the renal vein for 1 to 2 cm by puncturing the contralateral femoral vein or right internal jugular vein.The filter retrieve risk was assessed within 8 weeks after being implanted. The filters would be recovered through the right jugular vein when meeting the recovery standard, and the retrieve methods included conventional method, removing the guide wire into a loop trap method and guiding wire into a loop combined with balloon assisted method.The perforation of the vena cava was observed and the tilt angle of the filter was measured.The success rate of Celect filter retrieve was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Celect filters were successfully implanted in 120 patients with DVT.The IVC filters were implanted through femoral vein in 111 patients and 2 cases via right internal jugular vein.No complications,asymptomatic pulmonary embolism and related death was found in all patients.Twenty four patients did not reach the standard of filter retrieve,and were follow-uped.Ninety six cases were treated with Celect retrievable filter,among which,93 cases were successfully recovered with the filter indwelling time ranging from 7 to 144 days and the median being 50 days.The failure of the filter retrieve occurred in 3 cases because of the serious tilt of the filter or the encapsulation of filter by inferior vena cava thrombus.Perforation of vena cava with no clinical symptoms occurred in 21 cases.Filter tilt was found in 35 cases,among which,15 cases had inclined angle>15 degrees or the recovery hook closed to the IVC wall.Thirteen cases with filter tip or recovery hook attached to the wall were successfully removed by using the guide wire into a loop or trap guide wire into a loop combined with balloon assisted method instead of routine removal method.The retrieve rate was 100% when the retention time of Celect filter in the body was within 106 days. Conclusion Celect retrievable filter can be implanted in DVT patients with long retrieve time window and high retrieve rate,but the filter inclination rate and vena cava perforation rate are high.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of bronchial artery embolization(BAE)with tris-acryl gelatin microspheres(TAGM)combined with platinum spring coil with fiber(microcoils)in the treatment of acute severe hemoptysis caused by bronchiectasis.Methods A retrospective analysis of 48 patients with bronchiectasis was performed.After the lesion vessels were confirmed by angiography,the distal capillary bed was embolized with TAGM(300-500 μm),the middle blood flow was embolized with microcoils according to the diameter of the small artery,and then the proximal vessels were embolized with TAGM(500-700 μm)again.In patients with pulmonary artery/vein fistula,appropriate TAGM(500-700 μm)was selected according to the size of the fistula and the blood flow velocity,followed by dense embolization with multiple microcoils.The complete occlusion of the lesion vessel was confirmed again by arteriography after embolization.Results The overall success rate of operation was 95.83％.There were 36 patients with immediately stopped bleeding,6 cases with effective treatment,4 cases with improved treatment,1 case with invalid treatment due to the leakage of the responsible blood vessel,which was improved after the second embolization.There was 1 case died in surgery due to sudden massive hemoptysis,choking and suffocation.During the 3-51 months follow-up,1 patient died due to sudden massive hemoptysis;4 patients had recurrent hemoptysis due to poor control of infection and collateral circulation,which were controlled after reemboliza-tion,and 1 patient with bronchiectasis and pulmonary tuberculosis had repeated hemoptysis caused by multiple pulmonary lesions and severe pulmonary infection,performing on four times embolization.There was no patient with recurrent hemoptysis occurring recanalization of primary embolized vessel.During the follow-up,the overall survival rate was 97.87％,and the hemoptysis control rate was 87.23％.Conclusion TAGM combined with microcoils is safe and effective in the treatment of acute massive hemoptysis,which has good short-term effect and long-term prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of micronized fenofibrate on vascular endothelial function in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

METHODSUsing high-resolution ultrasound, we measured flow- and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation of the brachial artery in 30 patients with hypertriglyceridemia before and after treatment with micronized fenofibrate at a dose of 200 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Simultaneously, both serum lipid and plasma endothelin (ET) levels were determined.

RESULTSAfter micronized fenofibrate therapy, serum triglyceride (TG) levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Plasma ET levels also decreased markedly [(82.66 +/- 15.46) microg/L vs. (106.22 +/- 19.16) microg/L, P < 0.001]. Flow-induced vasodilatation was much improved (11.0% +/- 9.0% vs 2.7% +/- 2.0%, P < 0.01). However, no significant changes in vasodilatation occurred in response to nitroglycerin (16.2% +/- 6.0% vs 15.0% +/- 5.0%, P > 0.05) in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

CONCLUSIONSMicronized fenofibrate can improve impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Improving endothelial function may also be the mechanism responsible for the beneficial effects of micronized fenofibrate.

Adult ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

Gene synthesis is the most fundamental and widely used technique in biological research. The synthesis of DNA encoding regulatory elements, genes, pathways and entire genomes provides powerful ways to both test biological hypotheses and harness biology for our use. The emerging field of synthetic biology is generating insatiable demands for synthetic genes. And the past couple of years witnessed exciting new developments in microchip-based gene synthesis technologies. This review discusses the current methods of chemical DNA synthesis and gene assembly, as well as the latest engineering tools, technologies and trends which could potentially lead to breakthroughs in the development of accurate, low-cost and high-throughput gene synthesis technology. These new technologies are leading the field of synthetic biology to a higher level.
DNA ; chemical synthesis ; genetics ; Genes, Synthetic ; genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

In recent years, with the development of organ preservation, surgical techniques, perioperative management and immunosuppression regimens, the success rate of liver transplantation and survival rate of the recipients have been significantly enhanced. Liver transplantation has become the optimal treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. However, biliary complications still commonly occur after liver transplantation, especially biliary anastomotic stricture. Severe biliary anastomotic stricture will not only increase the cost of treatment, but also lead to graft loss and even affect the survival rate of recipients. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment of biliary anastomotic stricture play a significant role in improving the survival rate of liver transplant recipients. In this article, the risk factors, clinical symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of biliary anastomotic stricture after liver transplantation were reviewed, aiming to provide novel ideas for the research, diagnosis and treatment of biliary anastomotic stricture after liver transplantation, and further enhance clinical efficacy of liver transplantation and the quality of life of recipients.

OBJECTIVETo understand the toxic effects of manganese exposure on health by measurement of manganese concentration and occupational health inspection among workers in an enterprise exposed to manganese, and to provide a basis for occupational disease control.

METHODSThe air concentrations of manganese in 12 workplaces where workers often stayed were measured by typical sampling; occupational health inspection was performed among a total of 538 workers in the enterprise by cluster sampling.

RESULTSThe average concentrations of manganese in the workplace from 2011 to 2013 were 0.179 mg/m(3), 0.122 mg/m(3), and 0.082 5 mg/m(3), respectively, indicating a significant decrease in manganese level within the three years by rank-sum test (P < 0.05). The results of health inspection showed that 165 (30.7%) out of 538 workers had abnormal indices, and the incidence of autonomic nervous system abnormalities reached 32.7% (176/538). There was no correlation between manganese concentration in the workplace and the incidence of abnormal indices in health inspection, while the manganese concentration in the workplace was positively correlated with the incidence of autonomic nervous system symptoms (r = 0.718, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe manganese concentration in the workplace is positively correlated with the incidence of autonomic nervous system symptoms. Early exposure to a low level of manganese can induce functional changes and potential damages in the nervous system.

Humans ; Incidence ; Manganese ; analysis ; Nervous System ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Occupational Diseases ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Occupational Health ; standards ; Workplace