Objective To study the anti-lipid peroxidation effect of seal oil on rat liver steatosis induced by carbon tetrachloride and high fat diet and its mechanism of action. Methods: Both sc a low dose of carbon tetrachloride and high fat diet were given to male Wistar rats for 7 weeks . Then five groups(n=10 in each) received olive oil, simvastatin 4 mg ? kg-1 ? d-1, seal oil 0. 5, 1. 6, 4. 8 g ? kg-1 ? d-1 , administered orally for further 8 weeks,respectively . The untreated control group received only normal feed. The efficacy of seal oil on fatty liver and anti-lipid peroxidation was observed. Results: The contents of MDA and FFA decreased, CYP2E1 expressed weakly and SOD increased significantly in seal oil groups while hepatic TC,TG decreased and fatty liver was markedly improved when tested by pathologic diagnosis. Conclusion: Seal oil can induce SOD activities and eliminate oxygen free radical, thus show anti-lipid peroxidation effects on experimental fatty liver.

Objective To observe any effects of using isokinetic strengthening exercises combined with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate and joint mobilization in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods Eighty-one KOA patients were divided into a combined treatment group,a conventional treatment group and a control group.The combined treatment group received isokinetic strengthening training,intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate and joint mobilization therapy; the conventional treatment group received the injections and mobilization only; the control group was instructed to do ankle pumps at home on their own.Before the start of treatment and after 4 weeks,knee pain was self-assessed [using a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain] along with knee range of motion (ROM),quality of life (using the WOMAC condensed health survey rating scale) and indexes of isokinetic strength [including the knee flexors,extensor peak torque (PT),and the flexion and extension angles corresponding peak torque (AOPT)] in both groups.Results After 4 weeks of treatment,statistically significant improvements compared to the baseline values were observed in both groups.The combined treatment group,however,improved to a significantly greater extent than the conventional treatment group in terms of all of the measures.Conclusion Isokinetic strength training combined with intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate and joint mobilization has a synergistic effect in enhancing knee stability and improving the performance in activities of daily life of KOA patients.

Objective To investigate the early diagnostic value of plasma D-dimer level in acute aortic dissection (AAD) . Method A total of 80 patients with chest pain were enrolled from January 2006 to March 2009, and 40 patients of them were confirmed to be AAD with computerized tomographic angiography (CTA), and these patients were matched with 40 controls presenting suspected dissection, which were ruled out later. The D-dimer test was performed in all patients within 12 hours after onset of chest pain,and plasma D-dimer concentrations were compared between two groups. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of D-dimer used for diagnosing AAD were analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was also established. The statistical analysis of data was carried out by using Mann-Whitney test with SPSS 11.5 software. Results The plasma D-dimer oncentrations in AAD were significantly higher than those in controls [(5.48±7.95) vs. (0.64±0.75), P <0.0l]. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that D-dimer ( > 0.5 μg/mL) was predictive in the diagnosis of AAD, and the area under ROC curve was 0.848 ± 0.042, (95% CI: 0.766-0.930) with 87.5% sensitivity, 62.5% specificity,70% PPV and 83.3% NPV. Conclu-sions D-dimer may be a valuable biomarker in early diagnosis of AAD.

Objective To investigate the metabolite features of chronic pancreatitis in rats in vitro by high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Methods A total of 30 Spraque-Dawley rats were randomized into experimental group (n =20) and control group (n = 10). All the animals in experimental group were intravenously injected with 8 mg/kg body weight DBTC, and the animals in the control group received same amount of solvent. Pancreatic tissues were examined by histology and Van Gieson staining. Metabolic changes of chronic pancreatitis in vitro in rats were studied by high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results 60 days after DBTC application, the pancreatic tissue was characterized by an extended interstitial fibrosis with infiltrating mononuclear cells. Compared with the control group, the signal intensities of phosphocholine (Pc) and glycerophosphocholine (Gpc), taurine (Tau), lactate (Lac) of chronic pancreatitis group increased. Oppositely, the signal intensities of betine (Bet), glutamic acid ( Glu ), alanine (Ala), ileucine (He), leucine ( Leu ) and valine (Val) decreased. The signal intensities of acetic acid (Ace) and choline (Cho) were not changed. Conclusions There were obvious metabolic features of chronic pancreatitis in rats, and it is helpful for the application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in chronic pancreatitis in human studies.

Objective This study is to investigate the set-up accuracy of thermoplastic mask used for immobilization of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients being treated by Intensity Modulated Radia- tion Therapy (IMRT).Methods Nineteen patients with early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T1- T2N0M0),treated by fractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy,underwent repeated CTs during their 6-week treatment course.We evaluated their anatomic landmark coordinates in a total of 85 repeated CT data sets and respective x,y and z shifts relative to their position in the 19 treatment-planning reference CTs.Results The translation in x,y,and z-axes with their mean value derived from both positive and negative set-up errors was-0.84 mm(x-axis),+0.65 mm(y-axis) and +0.01 mm(z-axis).Mean target isocenter translation was (0.89?0.69) mm,(0.82?0.79) mm,(0.95?1.24) mm in x,y and z-direc- tions,respectively.The mean total magnitude vector and 95% CI of isocenter motion were 1.87 mm and 4.65 mm.The data measured over the 6-week fractionated course of treatment revealed a slight deterioration of isocenter accuracy.The 95% CI,considered by us to be a valuable parameter for characterizing the sys- tem,of 4.17 mm for measurement within the first 3 weeks increased to 5.12 mm in the last 3 weeks of treat- ment.Conclusions The sequential CT scanning is a pronounced valuable method of evaluating the quality of departmental specific patient positioning procedures.The thermoplastic mask is eyed as well suited tool for immobilization and repositioning of NPC patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Objective To evaluate the changes of the right atrium,right ventriculum,left atrium and left ventriculum after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect(ASD) during a short to mid-term follow-up.Methods The right ventricular end-diastolic anterior-posterior diameter(RVEDD),right atrial long diameter(RADl),right atrial transverse diameter(RADt),left ventricular end-diastolic ante-posterior diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV) and left atrial anterior-posterior diameter(LAD) in 36 patients with secundum ASD were measured before ASD closure,after 3 days,3 months and 6 months of ASD closure with transthoracic echocardiography(TTE).Results RVEDD,RADl and RADt were significantly decreased,while LVEDD,LVEDV and LAD significantly increased 3 days after ASD closure.During 3 months follow-up,RVEDD,RADl and RADt continuously became smaller;LVEDD,LVEDV and LAD continuously became larger.At 6 months,RVEDD was significantly smaller and LVEDD,LVEDV were significantly larger than those at 3 months.No remarkable difference of RADl,RADt and LAD was found between 6 months and 3months follow-up.Conclusion Transcatheter closure of ASD not only decreases the preload of right heart and causes right atrium and right ventriculum become smaller,but also improves the geometry of left heart and causes the narrowed left atrium and left ventriculum gradually return to almost normal status.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of Treatment of blow-out fracture of medial orbital wall with nasoseptal cartilage under nasal endoscope. METHOD: Under a nasal endoscope, the fracture and the prolapsed orbital contents were reduced to the orbit, and then an autogenous nasoseptal cartilage was grafted into the orbital defect. The variations in the visual acuity, diplopia, enophthalmos degree and eyeball position were detected preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULT: During the follow up of three months to four years after operation, all the 28 cases showed neither loss nor distinct descent of visual acuity. The postoperative mean enophthalmos degree (1.5 +/- 0.6) mm was lower than the preoperation one(3.6 +/- 1.1) mm (P<0.05). Diplopia disappeared completely of 25 cases during 3 month after operation,while it appeared in the primary position of 2 cases. The eye movement was normal of 26 cases after operation t, and the abduction was slightly limited of 2 cases, but which was better than be for). Any displacement of filling material, infection, rejection reaction were not found of all the 28 cases. CONCLUSION The medial orbital blow out fracture with nasal endoscope has many advantages, such as short operative route, clear surgical visual field, simple performance, light injury and no scars, and the effect of which will be really certain in the operative practice.
Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Septum ; surgery ; Orbital Fractures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESince the outbreak of a highly contagious new pneumonia, atypical pneumonia or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in Guangzhou area, 33 children with this syndrome were treated in the authors' hospital. The present study aimed to understand clinical characteristics and prognosis of pediatric SARS patients in Guangzhou area.

METHODSClinical manifestations, laboratory and radiologic findings, therapeutic approaches and prognosis of the 33 children with SARS in Guangzhou area were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 33 cases, 17 were males and 16 were females. The age was between 3 months to 13 years, and 3 - 12 years old patients accounted for 82%. Five (15%) cases had an evident history of contacting SARS patient before the symptoms occurred. Another 5 (15%) cases had a history that contacts of these patients (family members or friends) developed fever and/or cough later. The most common symptoms in this cohort were fever (100%) and cough (91%). Most of the cases had high fever, higher than 39 degrees C. Near half of the cases had nonproductive cough. The initial blood cells count showed that total white blood cell (WBC) count was (2.5 - 9.7) x 10(9)/L. In 22 (67%) cases the WBC count was < 5.0 x 10(9)/L, and in 10 (30%) WBC was (5.0 - 7.0) x 10(9)/L, in 18 cases most of the WBC were lymphocyte count. Chest radiograph showed patchy infiltrates, in 15 cases the changes were unilateral, and in 18 were bilateral. The radiologic changes developed fast, in some cases the changes progressed from one side to both sides. The opacity was absorbed slowly, significant absorption took in average two weeks. Elevated ALT was found in 3 cases and elevated CK-MB in 2 cases. Treatment included isolation, good ventilation of the ward, bed rest, supportive regimens, low volume oxygen inhalation, use of Chinese traditional medicine, antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection, and anti-inflammation therapy. All the patients recovered and discharged from hospital after a mean period of 10.0 +/- 3.8 days.

CONCLUSIONSARS in children may have its own characteristics. The main clinical manifestations were high fever and cough while no severe toxic symptoms, nor respiratory failure was seen; few symptoms or signs suggesting involvement of systems other than respiratory system were seen. Chest radiograph showed uni- or bilateral asymmetric air-space infiltrates which could worsen quickly and were absorbed slowly. Though there were severe changes in the lung, the patients might not have corresponding symptoms or signs. The total white blood cell count in peripheral blood did not increase. All the patients studied had a favorable outcome after the combined treatment.

Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bed Rest ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Cough ; complications ; Female ; Fever ; complications ; Humans ; Infant ; Length of Stay ; Lung ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome