Objective To analyze the allergens detection in asthmatic infants and young children. Methods The specific IgE test and allergens screening test were conducted in 243 infants and young children with whooping diseases including asthmatic bronchitis, asthmatic pneumonia and asthma by skin prick test and Pharmacia UniCAP test. Results 1. Food allergen was the allergen detection most frequently in infants(P = 0.03). The proportion of aeroallergens increased significantly with age (positive rate:67. 2%). Milk and egg white was the main food allergen detection in infants and young children,and the main aeroallergen detection was house dust mite. 2. The allergen - specific IgE test using UniCAP test system was more accurate than skin prick test. Conclusions The infants are more susceptible to food hypersensitivity; the increasing opportunity of aeroallergen exposure may lead to a higher prevalence of aeroallergens in young children. UniCAP system is more accurate than other methods.

Adolescent ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical application value of the modified radiography by digital ra- diography of the tempro-mandibular joint in the tempro-mandibular joint radiography.Methods A digital radiogra- phy machine(Siemens Aristos MX)was used to the tempro-mandibular joint disorders of 68 patients with the meth- ods of the modified radiography of the tempro-mandibular joint,and the results were compared with those of 45 cases acquired with conventional radiography.Results The modified radiography by digital radiography provided high res- olution,precise location and excellent images,and the total structures of tempro-mandibular joint was clearly dis- played,with a success rate of 99%(67/68),while the results acquired by conventional radiography were not clear, only with a success rate of 60%(18/45).There is significant statistical differences between the modified radiography by digital radiography and conventional radiography(x~2 = 35.08,P

5 days.Blood gas analysis and blood pressure were determined at admitted day.Meanwhile,peripheral white blood cells at d1,3,5,and blood glucose were measured every day,respectively.GCS at d1,3,5 and hyperglycemia scorce(HS) were evaluated.Results Of the 82 studied patients,36 cases died.Univariate analysis showed that hypotension,lower GCS,higher peripheral white blood cells and HS were the independent death risk factors(Pa0.05).In multivariate logistic regression,the factors significantly associated with an increase in mortality were hypotension,lower GCS and higher HS.Conclusion Lower GCS,higher HS and hypotension are associated with poor outcome of children with severe trauma brain injury.

OBJECTIVESince the dermatology life quality index (DLQI), a self-administered general dermatology quality of life instrument, was originally developed and published in a dermatology clinic at University hospital of Wales, our goal was to popularize the disease-specific scale used in measuring the quality of life of patients with skin diseases and to assess the reliability and validity of its Chinese version.

METHODSWe administered the DLQI to 236 out-patients attending our dermatology clinic and results that had been found by those who originated the DLQI, were examined. The reliability and validity of DLQI were assessed by means of reliability analysis and factor analysis.

RESULTSOverall, the DLQI seemed easy to administer and could be completed within 3 minutes. The internal consistency coefficient rates of this unidimensional measure were 0.87 (Cronbach's alpha) and 0.85 (Spearman-brown, s) with high inter-correlations found between the dimensions with a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.4024 - 0.6569. Factor analysis resulted in a unidimensional pattern, which supported the use of a total DLQI-C score.

CONCLUSIONDLQI was an easy and efficient instrument for assessing the quality of life in patients with dermatological problems and with better reliability and validity. Thus, it could be used in both research and clinical settings in China.

Eczema ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psoriasis ; psychology ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sickness Impact Profile ; Skin Diseases ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on cardiac function and the receptor mechanism in anesthetized rats. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), the left ventricle systolic pressure (LVP) and the maximal/minimum rate of LVP (+/-LV dp/dt(max)) were measured. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Low dose of CCK-8 (0. 4 microgram/kg i.v.) caused tachycardia and slight increase in MAP, LVP and LV dp/dt(max) (P<0.01), while medium dose (4.0 microgram/kg i.v.) and high dose of CCK-8 (40 microgram/kg i.v.) elicited a bradycardia and marked increase in MAP, LVP and LV dp/dtmax (P<0.01). (2) Proglumide (1.0 mg/kg i.v.), a CCK-receptor (CCK-R) antagonist, significantly inhibited the pressor effects of CCK-8, whilst it reversed the bradycardic responses (P<0.01). (3) Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), CCK-A receptor (CCK-AR) and CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR) mRNA were expressed in myocardium of rats. The above results indicate that CCK-8 may enhance cardiac function in a dose-dependent manner and elicit a change in HR, which is likely induced by the activation of CCK-R on myocardium.
Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cholecystokinin ; drug effects ; Sincalide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects ; Ventricular Pressure ; drug effects

OBJECTIVESevere pneumonia is one of the common severe diseases in children. Increasing evidences show that immune response greatly contribute to severe pneumonia. Dendritic cells (DC) are the important antigen presenting cells in the lung. To study the role of dendritic cells in development of severe pneumonia in children, the authors measured the number of mature DC in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and evaluated the relationship among IL-12, pro-inflammatory cytokines and clinical scores.

METHODSThe following 3 groups of children were enrolled in this study: severe pneumonia group: 27 children with severe pneumonia treated between November 2002 and May 2003 in PICU; mild pneumonia group: 30 children with mild pneumonia in department of pulmonology; control group: 29 children without pneumonia but receiving ventilator treatment for chest surgery. Mature DC in BALF was determined in severe pneumonia group and the control group on the day of tracheal intubation for mechanical ventilation. Acute lung injury scores and severe disease scores were evaluated in children with severe pneumonia and mild pneumonia. All children's serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-12 were measured by using ELISA within 24 hours after admission. SPSS version 11.5 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS(1) The percent of mature DC in children with severe pneumonia was significantly higher when compared with the control group on the first day after ventilation [14.2 (3.9 - 51.8)] vs. [1.3 (0.2 - 22.5)] (Z = 5.44, P < 0.01). (2) In severe pneumonia group, the concentration of serum IL-12 [117.0 (79.9 - 159.4) ng/L], TNF-alpha [90.6 (52.2 - 185.9) ng/L], IL-6 [128.7 (73.3 - 793.8) ng/L] were significantly higher than those in mild pneumonia group where the values were [71.6 (19.4 - 196.8)], [26.6 (2.5 - 113.9)], and [39.9 (7.8 - 82.5)] (P < 0.01), and the control group [6.4 (12.2 - 92.0)], [6.4 (1.8 - 91.9)], and [23.0 (6.4 - 54.2)] (P < 0.01). Serum IL-12, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in children with mild pneumonia were higher than those of control group (P < 0.01). (3) The percent of mature DC was increased with the serum level of IL-12 (r = 0.48, P < 0.01), TNF-alpha (r = 0.58, P < 0.01), IL-6 (r = 0.51, P < 0.01) and lung injury scores (r = 0.39, P < 0.05), but it did not correlate with severe disease scores (r = -0.11, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and over-stimulation of lung dendritic cells in children with severe pneumonia. Over-stimulation of lung dendritic cells, the increased serum levels of IL-12, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and the severity of pneumonia may suggest that DC plays an important role in pathogenesis of severe pneumonia in children.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; blood ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Pneumonia ; immunology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) of piglets.

METHODSEighteen piglets were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n = 6); heparin group (n = 6) and CVVHDF treatment group (n = 6). All the animals were anesthetized by muscle injection of ketamine (30 mg/kg), then placed in supine position, received continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine with the rate of 10 mg/(kgxh). After placing a 4.5 cm (inner diameter) tracheal tube via tracheostoma, controlled mechanical ventilation was established using the assisted-controlled ventilation option of the NEWPORT 200. Respiratory rate at 30 breath/min; PIP at 10 cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 0.098 kPa); PEEP at 2 cm H2O and fraction of inspired oxygen at 0.3. A vein catheter was placed into right vena jugularis interna to administer a Ringer's solution. Initially, at a rate of 10 ml/kg, followed by a rate of 15 ml/kg when the mean arterial blood pressure was below 70 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), the rate of 20 ml/kg was used when the mean arterial blood pressure was below 60 mm Hg. An 8Fr double-lumen catheter was inserted into left femoral vein and served as the pathway for CVVHDF. A Pulsiocath Pcco catheter was positioned into left femoral artery to monitor the circulatory parameters. All catheters were flushed with heparinized saline to prevent clotting. Then all the animals were given intravenous infusion of 150 microg/kg endotoxin within 30 minutes to induce ALI. When the oxygenation index < 300 and pulmonary compliance < 30% of the baseline, the animals of heparin group received heparin infusion to maintain blood active coagulation time (ACT) 180 - 250 s, the animals of treatment group received CVVHDF with the blood flow of 50 ml/min, replacement rate of 300 ml/h, dialysis rate of 600 ml/h and the ultrafiltrate rate of 350 ml/h for six hours, heparin infusion to keep blood ACT 180 - 250 s. The circulatory parameters: heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), central venous pressure (CVP), pulse contour cardiac output index (PCCI); systemic venous resistance index (SVRI), cardiac function index (CFI), external venous lung water index (EVLWI), left ventricular contractile index (dPmx); respiratory parameters: respiratory rate (RR), pulmonary compliance (Cdyn) were monitored; arterial blood gas analysis was performed and oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) was calculated. All the parameters were recorded at baseline (B), onset of ALI (A 0 h), two hours (A 2 h), four hours (A 4 h), six hours (A 6 h) after ALI.

RESULTSNo significant difference in circulatory parameters, respiratory parameters and blood gas analysis were found at B and A 0 h among the three groups. When the ALI occurred, PaO2/FiO2, Cdyn, MABP and PCCI of the three groups decreased; HR, RR, EVLWI, SVRI increased. After four hours of ALI, the RR, EVLWI, SVRI, CFI and dPmx of treatment group were improved, the differences were significant compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05). After six hours of ALI, the HR, PCCI, MABP, PaO2/FiO2 and Cdyn of treatment group were significantly improved, compared with control group and heparin group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in any of the parameters between control group and heparin group. The difference in CVP among three groups was not significant.

CONCLUSIONCVVHDF has a good effect on hemodynamics of the endotoxin-induced ALI of the piglets.

Acute Lung Injury ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Animals ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Hemodiafiltration ; Hemodynamics ; Swine

BACKGROUNDMultiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant tumor, which takes the second place in malignant blood disease. The clinical symptoms are complicated that make more difficult to diagnose and therapy. Lots of researches focus on the proteins about MM in order to solve those problems. We used proteomic methods to find potential biomarkers in MM patients.

METHODSWe applied the peptide ligand library beads (PLLBs) to deplete high abundance proteins in serum for finding potential pathogenic factors and biomarkers of MM. Using 1D-Gel-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we identified 789 and 849 unique serum proteins in MM patients and in healthy controls, respectively.

RESULTSTwenty-two proteins were found differentially expressed between the two groups including serum amyloid A protein, vitamin D-binding protein isoform-1 precursor, plasma kallikrein, and apolipoprotein A-I. Changes of integrin alpha-11 and isoform-1 of multimerin-1 were validated with Western blotting. The linkage of the differentially expressed proteins and the pathogenesis pathways of MM were discussed.

CONCLUSIONSPLLB combined with 1D-gel-LC-MS/MS analysis is an efficient method to identify differentially expressed proteins in serum from patients with MM.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; Peptide Library ; Proteomics ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVEMost of the therapeutic strategies for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is not effective. This study was to investigate the effect of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) on SIRS induced by cecum perforate peritonitis in piglets.

METHODSTwelve piglets (weighing 7-9 kg) were randomly divided into two groups: control and CVVHDF (n=6). The piglets of both groups were subjected to a cecum puncture to induce peritonitis which caused SIRS. After SIRS occurred the piglets of the CVVHDF group immediately received the CVVHDF therapy for 6 hrs, with a blood flow rate of 20 mL/min, a replacement rate of 300 mL/h, and a dialysis rate of 600 mL/h. The heart rate (HR), mean artery blood pressure (MABP), respiratory rate (RR), arterial blood gas analysis and blood cells count were measured and recorded at baseline and onset of SIRS, and 2, 4 and 6 hrs after SIRS occurred.

RESULTSWhen SIRS occurred, the HR and RR increased and the MABP, artery oxygen pressure (PaO2) and the count of white cells decreased in both groups. The HR of the CVVHDF group decreased significantly at 2 hrs (P < 0.05) and remained lower until 6 hrs after CVVHDF therapy (P < 0.01) compared with that of the control group. The RR of the CVVHDF group was significantly lower than that of the control group 6 hrs after CVVHDF therapy (P < 0.05). The MABP of the CVVHDF group increased significantly 4 and 6 hrs after therapy compared with that of the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively). There were no significant differences in temperature, PaO2 and blood cells count between the two groups during the experiment.

CONCLUSIONSCVVHDF has a positive effect on hemodynamics in piglets with SIRS induced by cecum perforate peritonitis.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Cecum ; injuries ; Central Venous Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemodiafiltration ; Intestinal Perforation ; complications ; Male ; Oxygen ; blood ; Peritonitis ; complications ; Swine ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; therapy