Humans ; Mineral Fibers ; toxicity ; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms ; chemically induced

Objective To explore the value of MSCT in diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Methods 24 patients with CTEPH and 8 patients with pulmonary hypertension by other causes were collected retrospectively.To analyzed the characteristics of CTPA images in patients with CTEPH,summarized the direct and indirect signs,and to compared with non-CTEPH.Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS1 7.0 software.Results According to the CTPA images,744 arteries of 24 patients with CTEPH were evaluated.The direct sign of CTEPH was mural thrombus firstly,accounted for 55.35% of the involved arteries,and then was followed by holo-obstruction,partial filling defect,central filling defect,irregular vessel wall thickening and eccentricity filling defect.There were narrowed lumens in 35.01%,dilated ones in 0.89% and no changes in 45.24%.The common indirect signs of CTEPH were pulmonary broadening (100%),enlargement of right heart (95.83%),mosaic attenuation,pericardial or pleural effusion,ground-glass opacity,infarction and atelectasis or consolidation in order.All patients had different degrees of pulmonary hypertension,and the most common findings of CTPA were widened pulmonary artery and enlarged right ventricle,and then were followed by enhancement of the inferior vena cava and hepatic vein,the expansion of bronchial artery and abnormal septal position.Conclusion CTPA can show the types and direct or indirect signs of CTEPH clearly.The morphological changes of the heart in CT are not enough to differentiate the CTEPH and non-CTEPH,and the severity of CTEPH is not alone decided by the degree of chronic pulmonary embolism.

Dust ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Inhalation Exposure ; prevention & control ; Nanoparticles ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Workplace

Objective To discuss the significance of abnormal expression of Rb,p53 and PCNA in patients with bladder carcinoma and the correlation with the tumor grade,clinical stage and relapse.Meth- ods Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the Rb,p53 and PCNA gene expression in 60 cases with bladder carcinoma.Results The positive rates of p53,PCNA in 60 cases of bladder cancer is both 40.0 %.There were 27(45 %)cases lack of Rb expression.Multiple altered expression was found in 30 cases (50.0 %).The abnormal expression of Rb,p53 and PCNA was closely related to the tumor grade,clinical stage and relapse.Conclusion The detection of multiple gene is more valuable than that of single gene. Multiple altered expression of Rb,p53 and PCNA and their synergistic action might play an important role in the genesis and development of bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVETo study the consistency between DR and high-kV chest radiographs in diagnosis of pneumoconiosis and to explore the feasibility of DR chest radiograph in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSTwenty five coal miners were examined with DR and high-kV chest radiographs at the same time. Image post-processing parameters (density, contrast, etc.) were set to ensure the quality of DR chest radiograph in Philips Essenta DR machine. In order to avoid the repetitive numbers, 50 chest radiographs were numbered at random. Pneumoconiosis diagnosis was conducted by six independent certified occupational physicians of pneumoconiosis by blind method. The consistency between 2 kinds of chest films was assessed.

RESULTSAll chest radiographs (25 cases, 50 chest films) were excellent. The diagnosis results of six readers on the 15 pairs of DR and high-kV chest radiographies were summarized. For high-kV chest radiographs, the consistency of pneumoconiosis classification for 12 pairs of readers was more than 68%, the consistency of total density for 11 pairs of readers was more than 68%. For DR chest radiographs, the consistency of pneumoconiosis classification for 13 pairs of readers was more than 60%, the consistency of total density for 14 pairs of readers was more than 60%. The consistency of pneumoconiosis classification between two chest radiographs was 72% (value: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.46-0.92), the consistency of total density between two chest radiographs was 80% (value: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61-0.95).

CONCLUSIONWhen the chest radiograph quality was good and the difference of reading films was low, there was a good consistency of pneumoconiosis diagnosis between DR chest radiographs and high-kV chest radiographs.

Anthracosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; methods ; Radiography, Thoracic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of image post-processing parameters on DR chest radiograph for the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSEighty three coal miners were examined with high-kV and DR chest radiographs at the same time. Image post-processing parameters (density, contrast and so on) were designed in a Philips Essenta DR machine were designed, then differences of image quality between high-kV and DR chest radiographs were compared.

RESULTSAfter regulating image and proceeding the parameters, the OD (optical density) values of high density areas in the upper-middle lung fields, subphrenic and direct exposure areas were 1.58 +/- 0.10, 0.23 +/- 0.02 and 2.80 +/- 0.21, respectively. The quality of chest films met the requirements of diagnostic criteria of pneumoconiosis. The rate of excellent chest films for DR chest radiograph was 95.18%, which was significantly higher than that (80.72%) for high-kV chest radiograph (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAppropriate parameters of image post-processing can make DR chest radiograph to meet the requirements of chest radiograph quality for the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

Anthracosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; methods ; Radiography, Thoracic ; methods

Objective To study the correlation between 8-Iosmerie Porastglnadin-2a(8-iso-PGF2α) 、hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) and coronary heart disease(CHD). Methods 153 CHD patients were divided into 3 groups,including 52 cases of acute myocardial infarction(AMI) ,50 cases of unstable angina(UAP) ,51 cases of stable angina(SAP) and control group consisted of 50 healthy people. The levels of hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α were measured. Person correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the level of hs-CRP and 8-isoPGF2α. Results The levels of hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α were significantly higher in AMI, UAP and SAP group than those in control group(all P ＜0.05). Compared with SAP group,the levels of hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α were increased in AMI and UAP groups (all P ＜ 0. 05) . The level of hs-CRP was positively associated with the level of 8-iso-PGF2α. Conclusion hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α should be the markers of coronary atherosclerosis and involved in the process of CHD. The levels of serum hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α were correlated with the severity of CHD.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese medicine and pharmacy (CMP) on the mortality of senile HIV/AIDS patients as adjunctive therapy.

METHODSHIV/AIDS patients of a certain rural area of Hanna Province, who were recruited in national CMP HIV treatment trial program (NTCMTP) in 2004, were enrolled as the CMP treatment group. HIV/AIDS patients in the same village without recruiting in NTCMTP were enrolled as the non-CMP treatment group. Data related to subjects were collected from the database of NTCMTP and National HAART Reporting System. Multiple regression analysis under Cox proportional hazard model was applied to examine the risk factors for death of senile HIV/AIDS patients.

RESULTSA total of 436 HIV/AIDS were enrolled in this study, 204 in the CMP treatment group and 232 in the non-CMP treatment group. There were 70 AIDS-relative deaths in the CMP treatment group, with 8-year mortality rate of 37.74%. There were 111 AIDS-relative deaths in the non-CMP treatment group, with 8-year mortality rate of 48.34%. The 8-year mortality rate was higher in the non-CMP treatment group than in the CMP treatment group (chi2 = 5.136, P < 0.05). Results of univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the hazard ratio in the non-CMP treatment group was 1.41 times that of the CMP treatment group (P < 0.05). Result of multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the hazard ratio in the non-CMP treatment group was 1.44 times that of the CMP treatment group (P < 0.05). Besides, gender and marital conditions were significantly associated with death of HIV/AIDS patients.

CONCLUSIONCMP treatment was favorable to lower the mortality rate of senile HIV/AIDS patients, and its objective evaluation awaits for further prospective study.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Alzheimer Disease ; therapy ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Communicable Diseases ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Humans ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe cerebral protective effect of muscone (nasal administration) on traumatic brain injury model rats.

METHODSSD rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, and the treatment groups according to random digit table, 50 in each group. Traumatic brain injury model was established by controlled cortical strike. Rats in the sham-operation group received surgery and anesthesia procedures only, with no strike. Muscone (1.8 mg/kg) was delivered to rats in the treatment group using in situ nasal perfusion, 30 min each time, twice daily for 7 successive days. Water content of brain tissue was detected in each group before intervention (T1), at day 3 of intervention (T2), day 5 of intervention (T3), and after intervention (T4), respectively. Expression levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were detected using immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operated group, water content of brain tissue increased (P < 0.05), and expression levels of NGF and BDNF decreased in the model group at T1, T2, T3, and T4 (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, water content of brain tissue decreased (P < 0.05), and expression levels of NGF and BDNF increased (P < 0.01) in the treatment group at T1, T2, and T3.

CONCLUSIONNasal administration of muscone could reduce water content of brain tissue, alleviate cerebral edema, promote secretion of BDNF and NGF by olfactory ensheathing cells in traumatic brain injury rats.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; Brain Injuries ; drug therapy ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Cycloparaffins ; pharmacology ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND:Traditional bone cement in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture easily induces heat dissipation effect, leakage, big difference in mechanical strength with the surrounding tissue, which greatly affects treatment effect of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. This prospective self-controled open-label clinical trial is designed to analyze the effectiveness of a novel high viscosity bone cement for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
METHODS/DESIGN:This prospective self-controled open-label clinical trial wil be performed in the Yixing Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University of China. High viscosity bone cement wil be implanted in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures by percutaneous vertebroplasty. Immediate outcomes: Pain symptom of patients before and after implantation of high viscosity bone cement, and Visual Analogue Scale score. Middle- and long-term outcomes: The recovery of spinal function, Oswestry dysfunction index questionnaire, vertebral body height, bone cement leakage rate, Barthel index and SF-36 quality of life scale score.
DISCUSSION: This trial wil provide a clinical basis for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with high viscosity bone cement.
ETHICS APPROVAL: This trial has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee, Yixing Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University (Approval number 0136). Patients and their family members have signed the informed consent.