A method for determinations of germanium in garlic was developed by means of acid digestion and extraction under reflux. It obriated not only the volatile loss of Ge but also the loss of volatile Allicin in the Allium sativum, with usual distillation methods. At the same time the sensitivity was remarkably increased under coprecipitation with ferric hydroxide and extraction operation. A good linear relation was obtained in the range of 0-2.0?g Ge. The average recovery of Ge is 90.9%, coefficient of variation is 4.0%, and detection limit in the Allium sativum is 0.14?g. The method is suitable for determination of Ge in other biological samples as well.

Objective To investigate the effect of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stent implantation with intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) on immediate death rate and cardiac function of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated with cardiogenic shock.Methods Emergency coronary angiography was taken 0.5-32 h after the attack, and PTCA and stent implantation performed on infarction related artery (IRA), supported by IABP until patients′ complications improved. Myocardial echocardiography was taken 5 weeks after operation.Results Except for 4 patients who died of aggravated shock or cardiac failure, all the patients had IRA reperfusion. Twenty-four patients had stents implanted (85.71%). Mean time from attack to reperfusion was 8.6 h, and death rate in the period of 5 weeks was 31.25%. EF of the 22 patients who survived was 0.43～0.67.Conclusion PTCA and stent implantation supported by IABP can improve results of operation,increase reperfusion rate, decrease immediate death rate and improve cardiac function.

Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of entecavir and lamivudine in treatment of early stage acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF),and analyze the predictive factors.Methods Forty nine patients with early ACLF were enrolled.Of which,28 patients were treated with entecavir,and 21 patients were treated with lamivudine.Mortality,length of hospital stay,cost,liver function,coagulation function,and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score were compared between two groups.Pharmacoeconomic evaluation was taken using cost-effectiveness analysis and cost minimization analysis.Results Mortality,length of hospital stay and cost had no significant difference between two groups.Ratio of costeffectiveness in lamivudine group was higher than that in entecavir group.Cox analysis showed that primary peritonitis and MELD score at the end of the second week were the main predictive factors.Conclusions Entecavir cannot improve the survival rate of early stage ACLF compared to lamivudine,but may provide economic benefit to patients with early stage ALCF.

Objective To calibrate and assess the dose distribution of 125 I seed brachytherapy. Methods Twenty 125 I seeds, each with activity of 12.2 MBq, were implanted on the circumference of a circle 15mm across in a phantom. Into a designed prostate model, 70 125 I seeds were implanted in four planes. The absorbed dose rate of the target volume was monitored by Farmar 2570 dosimeter and thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) with the isodose curves drawn on Kodak films. Results The central dose rates of the circular target volume assessed by Farmar 2570 and TLD were 8.4, 7.9 cGy/h in the phantom and 12.0, 11.1 cGy/h in the prostate model. For the target volume of the prostate model, the total absorbed dose was 24?219 cGy. The dose rate 4 cm from the prostate cancer as shown by the isodose curves was only 10% of the central dose rate. Conclusion The central dose rate of target volume measured by the two methods are similar.