Cardiovascular Diseases ; Growth Differentiation Factor 15 ; Humans

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of compound glycyrrhizin plus mizolastine for patients with generalized neurodermatitis(GND)and its influence on patietents' psychology.METHODS:60 patients with GND were randomly assigned to receive compound glycyrrhizin plus mizolastine(treatment group)or mizolasitine alone(control group)for 28 days.The psychological factors were examined before and after treatment using self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),and the curative effects and the psychological changes between two groups were compared.RESULTS:The SAS scores of treatment group and control group were 30.53? 1.50 and 33.20? 1.67,respectively(P

Objective To design quality improvement checklist of catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI),in order to improve the nursing quality of ICU and ensure nursing safety.Methods A new ICU quality improvement checklist of CRBSI was designed and applied for the quality control of the patients with central venous catheter from April to June 2012.The using rate of central venous catheter and incidence of CRBSI were observed.Results After application of the checklists,the using rate of central venous catheter was decreased and the incidence of CRBSI was decreased.Conclusions The checklist may help improve the prevention and control of CRBSI in ICU.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence and severity of acute high-altitude disease(AHAD) are determined by the speed entering the highland, the altitude of highland and seasons. The association between obesity and AHAD has not been fully investigated.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between obesity and acute high-altitude in people exposed rapidly to the highland.DESIGN: Comparative observation.SETTING: Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA and Department of Cardiology, Tibetan General Hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Tibetan Military Area Command of Chinese PLA in August 2006. Totally 82 Henan subjects aged 28-45 years were selected from the male workers constructing the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and their managers with acute high-altitude exposure. They had never been to the highland before, and all agreed to the detection.METHODS: ①Every subject completed the AHAD self-report questionnaire at sea level and 12 hours and 24 hours after ascending high-altitude. The items in the questionnaire included symptoms of headache, gastrointestinal symptoms,fatigue or weakness, dizziness, and insomnia. Each symptom was graded from 0-3 with 0 as no symptoms, 1 as mild symptoms, 2 as moderate symptoms, and 3 as severe symptoms and a total score of 15. A score of 4 or more could by identified as AHAD. ②The height and body mass were measured to calculate the body mass (BMI). Those with BMI≥28 kg/m2 served as the obesity group [n =39, mean age (35±8) years], and those with BMI of 18.5-23.9 kg/m2 as the normal body mass group [n =43, mean age (35±8) years]. ③Arterial blood was taken to evaluate arterial oxygen saturation (SO2), arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) and arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) at baseline and 24 hours after ascending high-altitude. ④The measurement data was compared by t test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI, vital capacity of lungs, SO2, PaO2 and PaCO2 levels of obese and normal people.RESULTS: Totally 39 obese people and 43 normal people were involved in the result analysis. ①AHAD score: No symptom was reported at sea level in all participants (scored 0), but the AHAD scores in the obesity group were significantly higher than those in normal group 12-hour and 24-hour after ascending high-altitude. ②Blood gas analysis:At sea level, there were no statistical differences in the levels of SO2, PaO2, and PaCO2 between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).But 24 hours after ascending high-altitude, SO2 and PaO2 of the obesity group were much lower than in the normal group (P＜ 0.01), and PaCO2 was significantly higher than in the normal group (P＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Obese men are more vulnerable to high-altitude hypoxia than people with normal body mass. Obesity is an important risk factor for the development of acute high-altitude disease.

Objective To evaluate the technique of finger palpation in thoracoscopic localization in patients with pulmonary nodules,and to summarize its technical details,especially with exploit of chest computed tomography (CT) facilitating it.Methods 95 patients with total amount of 109 pulmonary nodes 20 mm or smaller in size shown with lung window of CT,were reviewed.They were located subpleurally,with a median depth of 8.2 mm and a median size of 10.0 mm.The value of their depth over their size (D/d value) could be used as the extent of localizing difficulty.Each node had its own radiographic fealures for being localized,which was built preoperatively.Under thoracoscopic vision,nodules were finger-palpated by index finger via the 4th or 5th intercostal space on anterior axillary line,followed by wedgectomy or lobectomy for instant histopathological diagnosis to further decide the final surgical type.The distance between the nodule and the origin of segmental bronchus (L value) were also calculated out,as it might be relevant to the way the nodule could be biopsied.Results All nodules were successfully localized and resected for biopsy goal,105 by wedgectomy,4 by lobectomy.After intraoperative diagnosis was made by the pathologist,VATS lobectomy and lymph node dissection were further performed in 55 patients.L value of 4 cases being biopsied by lobectomy ranged from 18.3 to 30.3 mm,averaging 26.1 mm.Conclusion Finger palpation is viable in any cases of pulmonary nodules.Detailed reference of CT digital information,and enough detachment of mediastinal pleura,can greatly facilitate thoracoscopic localization by finger palpation.Lobectomy or segementectomy is preferable when L value is less than 30 mm.

Apolipoproteins B ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Pediatrics ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective To explore the effects of different degrees of intermittent hypoxia (IH) on the activation and the secretion of extracellular matrix in MLg lung fibroblast cell line. Methods MLg lung fibroblast cells in logarithmic growth phase were exposed for 5%O2 for 100 seconds and 21%O2 for 120 seconds in 1 h, 4 h and 8 h groups (IH1, IH4 and IH8) and normoxia group (21%O2 for 8 h, N group). The cells in each group were collected at the end of experiment. Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels ofα-SMA and typeⅠcollagen (COL1) A1, and Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression levels ofα-SMA and COL1. Results The mRNA and protein expression levels ofα-SMA and COL1 were significantly increased in IH1, IH4 and IH8 groups than those in N group (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, expression levels of α-SMA and COL1 showed a time-dependent increase with IH exposure time. Conclusion The intermittent hypoxia can promote the cell activation and the extracellular matrix secretion of mouse lung fibroblast cells, which may be related with the oxidative stress.

Objective To explore the effects of cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced hypoxia on migration of melanoma cells, and to detect the transcription, expression and secretion of Follistatin-like 1(FSTL1) in this process. Methods B16F10 melanoma cell line was treated with CoCl2 in order to mimic hypoxia. Experimental cells were divided into three groups: 0μmol/L, 50μmol/L and 100μmol/L CoCl2 treatment groups. MTT assay was used to assure cell viability, and to determine the treatment concentration of CoCl2. Transwell assay was used to determine the migration ability of B16F10 melanoma cell line. Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of Fstl1. Western blot assay was used to detect the intracel?lular and extracellular protein expression of FSTL1. Results The cell viability of B16F10 melanoma cell line was signifi?cantly reduced by CoCl2 treatment, with a time and concentration-dependent manner. The migration ability of B16F10 cell line was significantly increased in CoCl2 treated group compared with that of control group (P<0.05). The mRNA level of Fstl1 was obviously higher in CoCl2 treated group than that of control group (P<0.05). The intracellular expression of FSTL1 protein was consistent with the expression trend of Fstl1 mRNA. Simultaneously, the extracellular protein level of FSTL1 was significantly decreased compared with that of control group. There was no expression of FSTL1 in 100μmol/L CoCl2 treat?ment group. Conclusion The migration ability of melanoma cell line is enhanced by CoCl2 treatment, which may be associ?ated with expression and secretion of FSTL1, however, the relevant mechanism still needs further investigation.

Background Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) can effectively eliminate central vein occlusion macular edema and improve visual acuity, and photopic negative response (PhNR) can reflect the inner retinal function of RGCs and their axons. It is possible there is a correlation between these two observations.Objective This study was to evaluate the changes of PhNR of flash electroretinogram (F-ERG) after intravitreal injection of TA for macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion ( CRVO ). Methods Thirteen eyes of 12 patients with macular edema caused by CRVO received an injection of 0. 1 ml (4 rg) of TA. PhNR,visual acuity and retinal thickness of macular area were assessed with Roland RETI scan 3. 15 system,decimal visual chart and Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) before and 4 weeks after the administration of TA. Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any medical procedure. Results Visual acuity was improved in 12 eyes and stable in 1 eye 4 weeks following the intravitreal injection of TA. OCT showed that the retinal thickness of the macular area was reduced ;meanwhile,elevation of the amplitude of PhNR also was seen in the F-ERG after the administration of TA in comparison with before the administration of TA. The calculated results determined that the visual acuities were 0. 32t0. 12 and 0. 48±0. 09 (t=6. 325 ,P=0. 000) ,and the retinal thickness values of the macular area were (459.46± 131.31 ) μm and ( 297.54 ±43.31 ) μm ( t = 5.961, P = 0. 000 ), and the average amplitude of PhNR were ( 80. 23±22.96 ) μV and (61.28 ±20. 16 ) μV ( t = 4. 438, P = 0. 001 ) before and after the intravitreal injection of TA, respectively,showing significant differences. No significant correlation was found between PhNR amplitude and retinal thickness of the macular area both before and after the administration of TA ( before: r = 0. 587, P = 0. 035; after:r=-0. 011 ,P = 0. 971 ). Conclusion PhNR can be used for evaluating the status of inner retina after intravitreal injection of TA for macular edema of CRVO.

Background Sweep pattern visual evoked potential (SVEP) is an objective method of visual test.There is a clear correlation between SVEP acuity and subjective vision,but they are not identical.Recent studies showed that new regression method can improve the accuracy of SVEP acuity. Objective This trial was to investigate and compare the outcome between amplitude-spatial frequency (A-SP) regression method and amplitudelogVA (A-logVA) regression method in extrapolating the SVEP acuity.Methods SVEP was recorded in 113 eyes of 64 subjects using GT-2000 ( Guo Te,China) with the gratings of 10 different spatial frequency from 0.99 to 12.89 cpd as stimulus.The 1 13 eyes included cataract,glaucoma,corneal disease,optical neuropathy,retinal disease,ocular trauma,refractive error and normal eyes.The correlation were analyzed of SVEP acuity,decimal visual acuity and LogMAR visual acuity.The response were averaged and DFT on the monitor display.SVEP acuity was calculated by extrapolating 0 response amplitude.Results The correlation indices of decimal visual acuity curves obtained by the A-logVA function was 0.663,and that obtained by the A-SP function was 0.705.The positive correlation was seen between subjective decimal visual acuity and A-logVA decimal visual acuity (r =0.540,P＜ 0.01 ) and between subjective decimal acuity and decimal acuity calculated by the A-SP regression method (r=0.620,P＜0.01 ).SVEP decimal acuity calculated by the A-SP function regression method was significantly different from the that calculated by the A-logVA function regression method (Z =-8.688,P＜0.01 ).And the correlation indices of LogMAR visual acuity curves obtained by the A-logVA function was 0.733 and that obtained by the A-SP function was 0.715.The positive correlation was found between the subjective LogMAR acuity and that calculated by the A-SP regression method (r=0.700,P＜ 0.01 ) and between the subjective LogMAR acuity and LogMAR acuity calculated by the A-logVA regression method (r=0.710,P＜0.01 ).SVEP LogMAR acuity from A-SP function regression method was significantly different from the LogMAR acuity from A-logVA function regression method (Z=-8.748,P＜0.01 ).No significant differences of VA LogMAR were found in gender,eyes,type of disease and age(x2 =2.171,P=0.338;x2 =0.976,P=0.614;x2 =6.032,P=0.420;x2 =14.720,P=0.257 ).Conclusions SVEP can obtain the visual outcome in human.The amplitude-logVA function regression method is more accurate in extrapolating SVEP acuity.