Atherosclerosis ; Humans ; Urotensins

Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brugada Syndrome ; Cardiac Conduction System Disease ; Coma ; etiology ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Conduction System ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; complications ; diagnosis

Objective To explore the diagnostic significance of differential cell count in induced sputum to chronic cough and assessment of airway inflammation.Methods The sputum of 335 chronic cough patients were induced.Differential cell counts were measured in these samples.The side effects were observed during the induced procedure.The final diagnosis was made based on clinical manifestation and examination findings including pulmonary function tests,provocation test,induced sputum cell differentials, etc.Results The cause of chronic cough was defined in 322 patients.The six most important causes of cough were typical asthma(TA,n=84),eosinophilic bronchitis (EB,n=62),atopic cough (AC,n= 42),cough variant asthma (CVA,n=40),gastroesophageal reflux cough(GERC,n=37),rhinitis and/ or paranasal sinusitis (PNDs,n=32),and others and indefinite cause (n=25,13).Percentage of eosinophils were significantly increased in the induced sputum of AC,EB,CVA,and GERC patients (0.005,0.052,0.059,0.234) compared with those in other causes and the healthy controls (0) (P

OBJECTIVE: To examine the serum levels of S100 calcium-binding protein A8/A9 complex (S100A8/ A9) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to explore the relation between the serum levels of S100A8/A9 and the degree of coronary lesion. METHODS: A total of 126 patients with coronary heart disease were enrolled from Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between September 2010 and January 2011, which included 51 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP group, n=51), 50 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI group, n=50), and 25 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP group, n=25). Twenty-five healthy volunteers were served as a normal control group (NC group, n=25). According to the coronary artery lesion area, ACS patients were also divided into a single-branch group, a double-branch group and a triple-branch group. Serum levels of S100A8/A9 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on the day when the patients admitted to the hospital and on the day after one-week treatment (UAP group + AMI group). The serum levels were compared among the various branch groups. The short-term prognosis in patients with ACS was investigated by phone follow-up after 3 months. RESULTS: 1) The S100A8/A9 level in the SAP group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). The serum levels of S100A8/A9 in the UAP group and the AMI group were significantly higher than that in the SAP group (all P<0.05); There was no significant difference in the S100A8/A9 level between the UAP group and the AMI group (P>0.05); 2) After one-week standard treatment, the serum levels of S100A8/A9 in patients with ACS were significantly reduced compared with that at the admission (P<0.01), but it was still elevated compared with that in the normal control group (P<0.01); 3) The serum level of S100A8/A9 in the triple-branch group was significantly higher than that in the single-branch group and the double-branch group (both P<0.05); 4) The short-term prognosis in patients with ACS was not correlated with the serum level of S100A8/A9 (r=0.012, P> 0.05). CONCLUSION The serum level of S100A8/A9 is significantly elevated in patients with ACS, which might be positively correlated with the number of the coronary lesion branches.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Unstable ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex ; blood ; Prognosis

BACKGROUNDThere are few studies to assess whether the effect-site concentration of propofol can predict anesthetic depth during the target-controlled infusion (TCI) induction in elderly patients. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between effect-site concentration of propofol and depth of anesthesia during the TCI induction in elderly patients.

METHODSNinety patients (60 - 80 years) with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of 1 - 3, undergoing scheduled abdominal and thoracic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into one of three groups, Group S1, S2 and S3 (30 patients in each group). The patients in Group S1 received propofol with a target plasma concentration of 4.0 microg/ml; patients in Group S2 received propofol with an initial target plasma concentrations of 2.0 microg/ml that was raised to 4.0 microg/ml 3 minutes later; patients in Group S3 received an infused scheme of 3 steps; starting from a target plasma concentration of 2.0 microg/ml that was increased stepwised by 1 microg/ml until a target plasma concentration of 4.0 microg/ml was achieved, the interval between the two steps was 3 minutes. When an Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAA/S) score of 1 was achieved, remifentanil (effect-site concentration (Ce) of 4.0 ng/ml) and rocuronium 0.9 mg/kg were administered. Tracheal intubation was started 2 minutes after rocuronium injection. Changes of propofol Ce, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and bispectral index (BIS) were recorded.

RESULTSWhen an OAA/S score of 1 was achieved, Ce of propofol were (1.7 +/- 0.4) microg/ml, (1.9 +/- 0.3) microg/ml, (1.9 +/- 0.4) microg/ml and the BIS values were 64 +/- 5, 65 +/- 8, and 62 +/- 8 in Groups S1, S2 and S3. Before intubation, Ce of propofol was (2.8 +/- 0.2) microg/ml, (2.8 +/- 0.3) microg/ml, (2.7 +/- 0.3) microg/ml, and the BIS values were 48 +/- 7, 51 +/- 7, and 47 +/- 5 in Groups S1, S2 and S3. By linear regression analysis, a significant correlation between Ce of propofol and BIS values was found (r = -0.580, P < 0.01). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) before intubation was significantly lower in Group S1 than in Groups S2 and S3. SBP and HR after intubation in the three groups were significantly increased when compared with pre-intubation values, but they did not exceed baseline values.

CONCLUSIONSDuring the TCI induction, Ce of propofol with (1.9 +/- 0.3) microg/ml may make the elderly patients unconscious. When remifentanil with a Ce of 4.0 ng/ml is added a Ce of propofol with (2.8 +/- 0.3) microg/ml is suitable for intubation. The Ce of propofol has a close correlation with the BIS values. Also, a two-step TCI technique seems to be a more suitable method of anesthesia induction in elderly patients compared with the no-stepwise TCI technique and three-step TCI technique.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androstanols ; therapeutic use ; Anesthesia, General ; methods ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; methods ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Awareness ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; methods ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Linear Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents ; therapeutic use ; Piperidines ; therapeutic use ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use

To explore novel ADP receptor inhibitors with anti-thrombotic activity, eighteen compounds were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and MS. The results showed that the activity of compound C1 was superior to ticlopidine in platelet aggregation inhibition tests in vivo and worthy for further investigation. Compounds A4, B2, C4 and C7 possessed moderate platelet aggregation inhibitory activities.
Animals ; Male ; Molecular Structure ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thienopyridines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Viral ; chemistry ; genetics ; Ribonucleases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Virion ; chemistry ; genetics ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of cough and its risk factors in young college students in Guangzhou.

METHODSUsing a questionnaire with uniform scheme, a cluster-randomized sampling survey was conducted among young college students in Guangzhou. Fluoroscopy of chest was performed in subjects with persisted cough longer than 8 weeks.

RESULTSThere were 1087 cases with complete data from 1091 people including 648 males, 439 females with an average age of 21.16 years old. The total prevalence of cough was 10.9%. Difference in prevalence of cough between males and females showed no significance (10.3% vs. 11.9%, P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences between male and female in prevalence rates of acute cough (6.9% vs. 8.7%, P > 0.05) and chronic cough (3.4% vs. 3.2%, P > 0.05). Under chronic cough condition, cough was more likely to be the only or major symptom than under acute cough condition (77.8% vs. 44.6%, chi(2) = 11.166, P < 0.01). Nasal disease was an important risk factor to the development of chronic cough, which was found in 33.3% of the patients with chronic cough and when having chronic nasal diseases.

CONCLUSIONCough seemed a common disorder in young college student in Guangzhou and there was no significant difference in prevalence between males and females. Nasal disease was an important risk factor to chronic cough.

China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Nose Diseases ; complications ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Students ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA (MP-DNA) replication level in throat swab and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) with disease severity in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP). METHODS: A total of 44 children with SMPP who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage were enrolled as subjects. The serum levels of cytokines and MP-DNA replication times in throat swab were measured in the acute stage and the recovery stage, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-8 and MP-DNA replication times in BALF were measured in the acute stage. According to whether mechanical ventilation was needed for respiratory failure, the children were divided into a mechanical ventilation group (n=19) and a non-mechanical ventilation group (n=25), and the two groups were compared in MP-DNA replication times in BALF. RESULTS: For the children with SMPP, serum levels of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lactate dehydrogenase, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18 in the acute stage were significantly higher than those in the recovery stage (P<0.05). In the acute stage, MP-DNA replication times in throat swab were positively correlated with those in BALF (r=0.613, P<0.05), and MP-DNA replication times in BALF were positively correlated with IL-18 levels in peripheral blood and BALF (r=0.613 and 0.41 respectively, P<0.05). Compared with the non-mechanical ventilation group, the mechanical ventilation group had significantly higher MP-DNA replication times in BALF, a significantly longer duration of systemic hormone treatment, significantly higher serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase and IL-18, and significantly higher white blood cell count and IL-18 level in BALF (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In children with SMPP, MP-DNA replication level in throat swab and BALF can be used as a reference index for the assessment of disease severity.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Child ; Cytokines ; DNA Replication ; DNA, Bacterial ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of three-dimensional (3D) visualization technique in preoperative diagnosis, preoperative evaluation and surgical guidance for hepatolithiasis.

METHODSThe 64-slice spiral CT data of 30 hepatolithiasis cases were imported in a self-designed medical image processing system for 3D reconstruction of the intrahepatic bile duct. The preoperative diagnosis and pathological classification were derived from the reconstructed model, with which the feasibility and safety of the surgical plan were assessed by simulation of the surgical procedures. The consistency between the simulated procedure and the actual operation was evaluated, and the residual stones were detected using cholangiography with a T-shaped tube.

RESULTSWhen the model setting was configured to render the liver translucent, the system clearly displayed the site and number of the bile duct calculi as well as the expansion or narrowing of the intrahepatic bile duct. A total consistency (100%) was found between the surgical findings and the preoperative findings based on the 3D model, and also between the actual surgical procedures and the preoperative simulation in 30 cases. The consistency rate between the actual surgical protocols and the preoperative surgical plan was 90%. Follow-up of 27 of the patients for 6 months showed a recurrence rate of 7.4% (2/27) after the operation.

CONCLUSIONThe 3D visualization system allows accurate preoperative diagnosis and precise surgical operation to reduce the postoperative recurrence rate, and can be of value as a new diagnostic and treatment modality in biliary surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Cholangiography ; Female ; Gallstones ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Treatment Outcome