Objective To explore the high risk factors, pathogenesis and methods of early diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) in premature infants.Methods The history of intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia was investigated in premature infants;TORCH-IgM antibodies in cord blood of premature infants were measured by ELISA; Nitric oxide (NO) levels in their cord blood were determined by nitric acid reducing enzyme means. Results Thirty-nine of 52 premature infants in PVL group had a history of intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia; TORCH-IgM antibody positive rate in cord blood of premature infants in PVL group was significantly higher than that in control group(P

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of Qingfei Quyu Decoction (QQD) in preventing radiation pneumonitis in esophageal carcinoma patients by concurrent using it with chemoradiotherapy.

METHODSA total of 120 patients with mid-late stage esophageal carcinoma were randomly assigned to the treatment group (60 cases) and the control group (60 cases). All patients received concurrent radiochemotherapy. Patients in the treatment group additionally took QQD, one dose per day for 8 successive weeks. The incidence of radiation pneunonitis was compared between the two groups. The improvement rates of short-term benefit rate, Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), and body weight (BW) improvement rate were calculated between the two groups. The 1-and 2-year overall survival rates were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe incidence of radiation pneunonitis was 8.93% (15/56) in the treatment group and 18.64% (11/59) in the control group (P < 0.05). The short-term benefit rate was 92.86% (52/56) in the treatment group and 69.49% (41/59) in the control group (P < 0.05). Besides, the KPS and BW improvement rate were higher in the treatment group [89.29% (50/56) and 83.05% (49/59) ] than in the control group [80.36% (45/56) and 66.10% (39/59)] (P < 0.05). The 1-and 2-year overall survival rate were 66.07% and 35.71% in the treatment group, higher than those of the control group (61.02% and 30.51%; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONConcurrent using QQD with chemoradiotherapy for treating esophageal carcinoma patients could lower the incidence of radiation pneumonitis, attenuate the degree of radiation induced lung injury, improve clinical benefit rate, and elevate their QOL.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemoradiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; prevention & control ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of glycoprotein receptor blockade tirofiban in acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSFrom April 2006 to April 2008, 157 acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after PCI were randomly allocated to tirofiban (intravenous bolus 10 microg/kg followed by intravenous infusion of 0.15 microgxkg(-1)xmin(-1) for 48 h, n = 80) or equal volume saline (control group, n = 77). Baseline characteristics, PCI features and clinical outcomes during hospitalization, left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including death, re-infarction and target vessel revascularization) at 30 and 180 days after discharge were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Compared to control group, the MACE rates and re-infarction rates at 30 days (6.3% vs.18.2%, P < 0.05; 1.3% vs.9.1%, P < 0.05, respectively) and 180 days (10.0% vs.23.4%, P < 0.05; 2.5% vs.10.4%, P < 0.05, respectively) were significantly reduced in tirofiban group. LVEF value was significantly higher in tirofiban group at 30 days and 180 days compared with those in control group [(51 +/- 6)% vs. (46 +/- 8)%, P < 0.05; (57 +/- 7)% vs. (50 +/- 9)%, P < 0.05]. Hemorrhagic complications were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONUse of tirofiban for acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after PCI is safe and can significantly improve 30 and 180 days clinical outcomes after discharge.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Tyrosine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo examine the correlation between the health-related quality of life measured by the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the commonly used physiological measures in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).

METHODSThis study retrospectively analyzed the SGRQ scores and other measures (the Borg scale of breathlessness at rest, 6-minute walking distance, blood oxygen levels, and pulmonary function) of patients diagnosed and confirmed with LAM. Altogether 38 patients between June 2007 and November 2009 were included.

RESULTSThe mean values of the SGRQ three components (symptoms, activity, and impacts) and total scores in the LAM patients were 46.95 +/- 28.90, 58.47 +/- 25.41, 47.89 +/- 29.66, and 51.11 +/- 26.35, respectively. The SGRQ total or component scores were correlated well with the Borg scale of breathlessness, 6-minute walking distance, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, spirometry and diffusion capacity of lung. There were poor correlations between SGRQ score and residual volume or total lung capacity. In our preliminary observation, sirolimus improved the SGRQ total and three component scores and the Borg scale of breathlessness significantly after 101-200 days of treatment (n = 6).

CONCLUSIONSThe SGRQ score in LAM is correlated well with physiological measures (Borg scale of breathlessness, 6-minute walking distance, blood oxygen levels, and pulmonary function tests). The SGRQ could therefore be recommended in baseline and follow-up evaluation of patients with LAM. Treatment with sirolimus, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin, may improve the quality of life and patient's perception of breathlessness in LAM.

Adult ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Residual Volume ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVETo study the findings in radionuclide cisternography in patients with obstructive hydrocephalus following third ventriculostomy.

METHODSLumbar radionuclide cisternography was performed in 15 patients with obstructive hydro- cephalus before and after third ventriculostomy.

RESULTSThe postoperative cisternography identified radiopharmaceutical reflux into the lateral cerebral ventricles with delayed clearance for 24 h, similar to the findings by cisternography of communicating hydrocephalus.

CONCLUSIONThe cause of ventricular radiopharmaceutical reflux is not yet understood, possibly in association with the reversal of normal cerebrospinal fluid flow though the fenestration on the third ventrical floor.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; diagnostic imaging ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radioisotopes ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Third Ventricle ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Ventriculostomy ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of recombinant human interleukin 11 (rhIL-11) on hematological recovery after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) in patients with lymphoma.

METHODSA retrospective study was carried out on 73 patients with lymphoma after AHSCT. The patients were divided into two groups. The study group (n = 35) received rhIL-11 1.5 mg daily from the fifth day after AHSCT to the day when platelets recovering to 80.0×10⁹/L. The control group (n = 38) did not receive rhIL-11 after AHSCT.

RESULTSAll the 73 patients finished AHSCT from Mar 2003 to Dec 2008 in our department. Thirty-five patients received rhIL-11 and 38 patients did not. In the rhIL-11 group and control group, the nadir of platelet was (18.9 ± 5.0)×10⁹/L and (21.5 ± 6.0)×10⁹/L, respectively, with a significant difference (P = 0.04). The median time of platelet recovering to 50.0×10⁹/L was (14.3 ± 5.5) d and (13.2 ± 4.5) d (P = 0.37) in the two groups. There was no significant difference (P = 0.82) in the median numbers of platelet transfusion in the two groups. The curves of the mean of daily absolute platelet counts of the two groups were similar (P = 0.22). Adverse events related to rhIL-11 were not found in the rhIL-11 group.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study do not show obviously accelerating effect of rhIL-11 on the platelet recovery in lymphoma patients after AHSCT and obvious increase of adverse events after rhIL-11 administration.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Interleukin-11 ; administration & dosage ; Lymphoma ; therapy ; Male ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Autologous

BACKGROUNDA five-year follow-up study of intensive multifactorial intervention was undertaken to assess the changes of circulating serum amyloid A (SAA) levels and the incidence of atherosclerosis (AS) in patients with short-duration type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without macroangiopathy, and whether intensive multifactorial intervention could prevent or at least postpone the occurrence of macroangiopathy.

METHODSAmong 150 patients with short-duration T2DM, 75 were assigned to receive conventional outpatient treatment (conventional group) and the others underwent intensive multifactorial integrated therapy targeting hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia and received aspirin simultaneously (intensive group).

RESULTSPlasma SAA levels were higher in diabetic patients than those in healthy control subjects, and decreased obviously after intensive multifactorial intervention. The levels of SAA were positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), triglyceride (TG), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT). The standard-reaching rates of glycemia, blood pressure and lipidemia were significantly higher in intensive group than those of conventional group. The incidence of macroangiopathy decreased by 58.96% in intensive group compared with conventional group.

CONCLUSIONSIntensive multifactorial intervention may significantly reduce the SAA levels and prevent the occurrence of AS in short-duration patients with T2DM. SAA might be one of the risk factors of T2DM combined with AS.

Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Tunica Media ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDHigh-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a promising approach for lymphomas. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ifosfamide, cisplatin or carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE)-based regimen as a mobilization regimen on relapsed, refractory, or high-risk aggressive lymphoma.

METHODSFrom June 2001 to May 2013, patients with lymphomas who mobilized by ICE-based regimen for ASCT were analyzed in this retrospective study. The results of the autologous peripheral blood stem cells collection, toxicity, engraftment after ICE-based mobilization regimen were analyzed in this study. Furthermore, risk factors for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were evaluated by univariate analysis.

RESULTSThe stem cells were mobilized using ICE-based regimen plus rituximab or ICE-based regimen alone in 12 patients and 54 patients, respectively. The results of stem cell mobilization were excellent. Ninety-seven percentages of the patients had the stem cell collection of at least 2.0 × 10 6 CD34 + cells/kg and 68% had at least 5 × 10 6 CD34 + cells/kg. Fifty-eight percentage of the patients experienced Grade 4 neutropenia, 20% developed febrile neutropenia, and only 12% had Grade 4 thrombocytopenia. At a median follow-up of 63.8 months, the 5-year PFS and OS were 64.4% and 75.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONICE is a powerful regimen for stem cell mobilization in patients with lymphomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Etoposide ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; therapeutic use ; Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the early effects of coal dust on lung function in new underground coal miners.

METHODSTwo hundred and eighty-seven male miners were selected from new employees at the Xuzhou Mining Group Company as study group, and 132 male students at a mining technical school were selected as control. Data collection included: individual demographic parameters, family medical history, occupational history, and smoking history, measurement of dust concentrations in work areas, and lung function tests. This prospective cohort study took place over 3 years during which time total dust and respirable dust concentrations in the new coal miners' work areas were measured twice each month. For both miner and student groups, FVC and FEV(1) were tested initially before dust exposure, and then 15 times over the 3 years.

RESULTSThe average total dust and respirable dust concentrations in the miners' work areas were 23.8 mg/m(3) and 8.9 mg/m(3) respectively, which greatly exceeded national health criteria. During the first year of dust exposure, the miners's average FVC was higher than that of the controls (5.19 L vs 4.92 L, P < 0.01). During the 2nd and 3rd year the difference in average FVC between miners and control group was not significant (5.14 L vs 5.12 L, P > 0.05). Before dust exposure, the miners' FEV(1) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.48 L vs 4.28 L). In the miners group, FEV(1) declined rapidly during the first year following dust exposure (from 4.48 L to 4.25 L), and in the 2nd and the 3rd year the average FEV(1) of the miners was significantly lower than that of controls (4.34 L vs 4.56 L, P < 0.01), although there were some fluctuations during the follow-up period. Overall, the average FEV(1) of miners group showed a significant decline during the study. There were significant correlations between FVC or FEV(1) and age, height, weight, and smoking. The three-year total loss of FVC and FEV(1) in smoking miners (154 ml, 184 ml) were greater than in non-smoking miners (83 ml, 91 ml).

CONCLUSIONThere are apparent effects of coal dust on lung function in new underground coal miners, with FEV(1) being more impacted than FVC. Smoking may aggravate the effect of dust exposure on reducing lung function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Coal Mining ; Cohort Studies ; Dust ; analysis ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Inhalation Exposure ; adverse effects ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; physiology ; Smoking ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the serum lipid panels in consecutive autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(APAP)patients and analyze their relationship with anti-granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF)antibody and other markers.

METHODSThirty-two non-diabetic APAP patients were enrolled in the study. Serum lipids of these patients and 100 healthy volunteers were tested after an overnight fasting. Anti-GM-CSF antibody levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation of serum lipids with lactate dehydrogenase,carcinoembryonic antigen,pulmonary function,and artery blood gas parameters were analyzed.

RESULTSTotal cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels [(5.54±0.99)and(3.73±0.83)mmol/L respectively] were significantly higher in APAP patients than in healthy volunteers [(5.05±0.97)and(3.17±0.89)mmol/L respectively](all P<0.05). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)level of the APAP group [(1.10±0.18)mmol/L ]was significantly lower than that of the healthy group(P<0.05). Low-density lipoprotein/HDL and total cholesterol/HDL ratios in the APAP group(3.47±0.90 and 5.14±1.12 respectively)were significantly higher than those in the healthy group[(2.63±0.87)and(4.18±1.12)](all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in triglyceride level between the two groups(P>0.05). HDL-C level was negatively correlated with alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference(r=-0.436,P<0.05)and positively correlated with arterial oxygen saturation(r=0.459,P<0.05). None of the lipid markers correlated with serum anti-GM-CSF antibody levels(all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAPAP patients were likely to suffer from disturbed lipid metabolism,which was correlated with disease severity to some degree. Lipid markers deserved more attention in the management of APAP patients.

Antibodies ; blood ; Autoimmune Diseases ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ; epidemiology ; metabolism