The relationship between immune vasculitis and atherosclerosis was studied. The experimental model of weanling rabbits for immune vasculitis was reproduced by intravenous injection of 10% bovine serum albumin. There were 6 groups: group A, 25 weanling rabbits with immune vasculitis subject to coronary arteriography; group B, 10 normal mature rabbits subject to coronary arteriography; group C, 10 weanling rabbits subject to coronary arteriography; group D, 8 weanling rabbits with vasculitis and cholesterol diet; group E, 8 weanling rabbits receiving single cholesterol diet; group F: 8 weanling rabbits receiving basic diet. Four weeks later, coronary arteriography was performed in groups A, B and C. The rabbits in groups D, E and F were sacrificed for the study of pathological changes in the coronary artery after 12 weeks. The results showed that the dilatation of coronary artery occurred in 6 rabbits of group A, but in groups B and C, no dilatation of coronary artery appeared. In comparison with group E, more severe atherosclerosis occurred in group D, showing the thickened plaque, fibrous sclerosis and atherosclerotic lesion. Percentage of plaques covering aortic intima, incidence of atherosclerosis of small coronary arteries and degree of stenosis of coronary arteries were significantly higher in group D than in group E (P < 0.01). No atherosclerosis changes were found in group F. It was concluded that in the acute phase, the serum immune vasculitis can induce the dilatation of coronary artery of some weanling rabbits, and aggravate the formation of atherosclerosis in rabbits fed with cholesterol diet. Immune vasculitis is a new risk factor of atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease.
Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis/chemically induced ; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis/*complications ; Atherosclerosis/*etiology ; Cholesterol, Dietary/*administration & dosage ; Myocardial Ischemia/etiology ; Random Allocation ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin, Bovine

Objective To enhance the function of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) and the efficiency of medical imaging by adjusting dataflow. Methods About 9500 examinations consecutive data in July of 2003 were analysed and and followed. The dataflow was adjusted by adding digital radiology servers and temporal servers. Results The network bottleneck was resolved and the system load balanced, then the function of the system was enhanced. The secure running of the system was ensured in condition of urgency or increasing of patients and image data. Conclusion Adjustment of dataflow in PACS makes full use of all resources, reduces unnecessary time-wasting , further improves the working efficiency in our department.

Objective To evaluate long-term efficacy of microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with cervical lymph node metastasis. Methods A total of 154 patients with stage N2 or N3 NPC ('92 staging system) were randomized into two groups:microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy (Group A, 76 cases) and chemoradiotherapy alone (Group B, 78 cases). Both of the two groups received 1 -2 cycles of chemotherapy of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, followed by conventional radiotherapy of 70 - 78 Gy in 35 - 39 fraction to the nasopharynx and 68 -72 Gy in 34 - 36 fractions to the neck. Group A received microwave hyperthermia to the metastatic cervical nodes at the beginning of radiotherapy. The hyperthermia was given as 45 min every time, twice a week for 8 - 14 times totally. Results The 5-year complete response rates of cervical lymph nodes in group A and B were 97% and 77% (x2 = 14. 24,P<0. 01). The distant metastasis rates in the two groups were 37% and 44% (x2 = 0. 73, P > 0. 05). The disease-free survival rates were 51% and 21% (x2 = 15.91, P <0. 01). The 5-year overall survival rates were 59% and 41%, respectively (x2 = 5.09, P < 0. 05).Conclusions For patients with stage N2 or N3 NPC, microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy can improve the complete response, disease-free survival and overall survival.

Objective To understand the comments for the essential drug system by doctors at township health centers in Nantong's six counties and to discuss the effect of implementing the essential drug system to different ownership systems.Methods The survey was made with stratified clusters random sampling method to select township health centers.Questionnaires were filled out by doctors,and leaders of the health bureau and township health centers were interviewed.Results After the implementation of the essential drug system,94.6％of the doctors found that the number of laboratory examinations increased in Rugao,Rudong and Haian.23.2％of the doctors in Tongzhou,Qidong and Haimen found that enthusiasm for work increased.Conclusion The compensation mechanism should be perfected and the financial subsidies should be paid in time.Supervision and management should be strengthened and the grassroots need for medicine be ensured.The skills training should be enhanced and the medical service ability be improved.

Objective To observe the effects of telramethylpyrazine(TMP)on the splanchnic blood flow in severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)rats and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.Methods Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:telramethylpyrazine group(TMP group,n=16)and SAP group(n=16).At 12,24 hours after the induction of SAP,serum amylase was measured.The regional pancreatic blood flow was measured by Doppler ultrasound;the blood flow of portal vein,spleen artery and superior mesenteric artery were also measured.Results The level of the serum amylase was lower in the TMP group than that in the SAP group(P

Objective To investigate the role of serum in children with Kawasaki disease(KD)in acute stage and ?-globulin role in monocyte cell-produced leukotriene B4(LTB4).Meanwhile,to investigate the effects of the monocyte cell conditioned media(MCM)on the expression of leukotriene B4 receptor 2(BLT2)in endothelial.In order to understand whether LTB4-BLT2 pathway gets involved in vascular damage in KD and the mechanism of ?-globulin in the lessening vascular damage of KD.Methods The concentration of LTB4 in cell culture after the stimulation by serum of healthy children,serum of acute KD and serum of acute KD with ?-globulin were observed,respectively.The expression of BLT2 in the endothelial was determined by flow cytometry.Results 1.The serum of children with KD increased the concentration of LTB4 in MCM(P

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of a novel anvil insertion technique in intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy and esophagogastrostomy after laparoscopic total or proximal gastrectomy.Methods A total of 40 patients with gastric cancer underwent laparoscopy-assisted radical total or proximal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection,followed by esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy using a reverse anvil insertion technique (the observation group,n =22) or traditional open surgery technique (the control group,n =18).Data of the two groups were compared.Results In observation group,laparoscopic total gastrectomy and esophagojejunostomy were successfully performed in 17 patients,laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and esophagogastrostomy were successfully performed in the 5 patients,and no conversion to open surgery occurred.The mean time of operation was (272.0 ±49.8)min,including (12.9 ±4.3)min for anvil insertion and (48.1 ± 12.8)min for digestive tract reconstruction,which were significantly shorter than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05).The mean time of getting out of bed in observation group was (3.4 ± 0.8) d,the mean time of post-surgical eating was (8.0 ± 2.6) d,and the mean time of hospitalization was (10.8 ±3.3)d,which were all similar with those from the control group (P ＞0.05).Conclusion The reverse anvil insertion technique is a reliable strategy for laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy or esophagogastrostomy.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of insulin and different kinds of free fatty acid (FFA) on glucose transport in cultured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes or adipocytes. METHODS: Following the exposure of preadipocytes to insulin at different concentrations and treated times, glucose transport was assessed as [3H]2-deoxy glucose uptake. Furthermore, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes with either the monounsaturated FFA oleate (C18:1) or the saturated FFA palmitate (C16:0)were used and glucose transport was examined as above. RESULTS: Insulin increased specific membrane glucose transport in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes at the time of 15 min to 1 h stimulation. However, after 6 h exposure to insulin, downregulation of glucose transport was observed. Dose response studies demonstrated that 2-DG transport increased by 336% at 50 nmol/L of insulin (P

Lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis was administered to 34 patients with primary hypertlipidemia, 20 mg once daily with the evening meal. Patients experienced mean total and LDL cholesterol reductions of 30.9% and 34.0% respectively. HDL cholesterol level was significantly increased by 15.4% and plasma triglyceride level was decreased by 11.2%. maximal hypocholesterolemic effects were evident at 8 weeks, after which the effects were stable. Adverse effects were noted in 2 patients who had mild gastrointestinal symptoms, that subsided after discontinuing the drug. We concluded that lovastatin is a well tolerated and effective agent for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Lovastatin ; Meals ; Plasma* ; Triglycerides

AIM: To investigate whether there was nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α 7 (nAChR α 7 ), choline acetyltransferase(ChAT), acetylcholinesterase(AChE) expression and its regulation in mature dendritic cells (DCs). METHODS: Bone marrow(BM) -derived DCs from healthy BALB/c mice were incubated with rmGM -CSF and rmIL-4, and stimulated to mature with LPS. Meanwhile, light microscope and flow cytometry were used to identify DCs, as well as immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and RT - PCR methods were used to dectect expression of nAChR α 7, ChAT and AChE. Flow cytometry was also used to analyze nAChR α 7 expression with mecamylamine (MEC) in 12 h. RESULTS: Both protein and mRNA expression of cholinergic system nAChR α 7, ChAT and AChE were found in mature DCs. Furthermore, nAChR α 7 distributed principally in cell membrane, while ChAT and AChE in cytoplasm. Protein expression of AChE was stronger as compared with ChAT ( P ＜ 0. 05), and there was a trend toward increasing as compared with nAChR α 7. And then, the expression of nAChR α 7 was down regulated by MEC as compared with the group without MEC stimulation(P ＜ 0. 05 ). CONCLUSION: An innate cholinergic system was in mature DCs, which was affected by extrinsic factor ( i. e. , MEC). And it may be involved in anti - inflammation immune adjustion of cholinergic closed - circuit.