Objective To investigate the value of intra-cavitary contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in the location of drainage tubes which were unclear in conventional ultrasonography. Methods The locations of 32 drainage tubes in 26 patients were unclear in conventional ultrasonography. The diluted ultrasound contrast agent (SonoVue) was injected through the tubes. CEUS was used to evaluate the visualizations of the inner tubular portions and the distal ends. Whether the drainage tubes were in situ or not was also judged. The time-consumption of detection was counted. Results The percentages of the visualization of inner tubular portions and the distal ends in conventional ultrasonography were 52.25%(18/32) and 0,respectively. However,the percentages of visualization in CEUS were 100% and 93.75%(30/32), respectively. The difference were significant when compared conventional ultrasonography with CEUS ( P＜0.001 ). CEUS detected that three drainage tubes weren't in situ. And the median of timeconsumption of CEUS was just 4. 5 seconds (range: 1-77 seconds). Conclusions Intra-cavitary CEUS is a sensitive and high efficient technique in the visualization of drainage tube which may complement the insufficiency of conventional ultrasonography. It could be used as the first choice in the location of drainage tube.

PURPOSE: To evaluate several risk factors related to re-ulceration of diabetic foot including psychosocial aspects such as familial support and degree of independence of patients' activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records and performed telephone interview with eighty-five patients who had a history of hospitalization in our hospital due to diabetic foot ulceration from year 2002 to 2010. Based on the collected data, we analyzed several factors such as age, gender, prevalence duration, accompanying diseases, HbA1c level, degree of independence and familial support. RESULTS: The mean age was 61.4 years and most common in the 4th decade. There were 57 cases (67%) of recurrence, predominance of male. Eleven patients with recurrent diabetic foot ulceration had undergone major amputations. Psychosocial problems such as depression, insufficient familial support and mortality were more frequently observed in recurrent group. CONCLUSION: This study shows that psychosocial factor such as familial support for patient with diabetic foot could be important to reduce the recurrence rate of diabetic foot ulceration. Therefore, we should pay attention to strategic plans for prevention, screening, treatment, and aftercare through the prospective studies including psychosocial risk factor in diabetic foot ulceration.
Aftercare ; Amputation ; Depression ; Diabetic Foot ; Foot ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ulcer

Ectopic ACTH syndrome caused by adrenal pheochromocytoma is very rare.A case was herewith reported and the domestic and foreign literatures were reviewed.The correct diagnosis of the syndrome depends on clinical,biochemical,hormonal,radiographic,pathological investigations,as well as tumor immunohistochemistry for final comprehensive judgments.

Background and Objective:B7-H1,a member of B7 family,is expressed in tumor cells and has emerged as an important immune modulator capable of suppressing host immunity by inhibiting T cells function.This study was to probe into the correlation between the expression level of B7-H1 protein in pancreatic carcinoma tissues and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.Methods:The expression of B7-H1 was measured in 40 cases of pancreatic carcinoma tissues and 10 cases of normal corresponding paracaroinoma tissues by immunohistochemistry.The relationship between the expression level of B7-H1 and clinicopathological characteristics and survival was analyzed.Results:The positive rate of B7-H1 was significantly higher in the tumor tissues [45.00%(18/40)]than in the normal corresponding paracarcinoma tissues[0(0/10)](P<0.05);moreover,B7-H1 expression was significantly associated with the staging of tumor and preoperative serum CA19-9 level(P<0.05).The multivariate cox proportional hazards regression analysis of prognostic factors for overall survival and relapse-free survivalshowed that the expression of B7-H1 was an independent factor for poor prognosis.Conclusion: B7-H1 protein was expressed in human pancreatic carcinoma tissues,and was associated with the prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of the maximal androgen blockade(MAB) and MAB combined with 125I brachytherapy on prostatic cancer.

METHODSForty-four patients with prostatic cancer (from 1993 to 2002), 28 at pathologic stage C and 16 at stage D, were analyzed retrospectively. Thirty-five of them were treated by bilateral orchidectomy and anti-androgen drugs, i.e. MAB, and 9 treated by MAB combined with 125I brachytherapy. The survival rates and the variation of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels between pre- and post-treatment were compared.

RESULTSThe level of PSA decreased from 60.3 micrograms/L to 12.1 micrograms/L in 35 patients treated by MAB, and from 72.1 micrograms/L to 3.6 micrograms/L in 9 patients treated by MAB combined with 125I brachytherapy after 6 months. The post-treatment survival rates were 81.3% (26/32, excluding 3 deaths by other diseases) for patients treated by MAB after a mean follow-up of 39.2 (9-84) months and 100% for patients by MAB combined with 125I brachytherapy after a mean follow-up of 13(7-24) months.

CONCLUSIONMAB and MAB combined with 125I brachytherapy are effective for patients with prostatic cancer.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgen Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Brachytherapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; mortality ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo characterize the clinical features of Chinese HNPCC families and to screen the mutations of a poly-(A)8 tract in M3 cholinergic receptor gene in these families.

METHODSThe clinical features of 15 Chinese HNPCC families were characterized. Genomic DNAs from 15 probands were prepared. PCR and direct DNA sequencing analysis were employed to examine the mutations of a poly-(A)8 tract in exon 8 of M3 cholinergic receptor gene.

RESULTSTotal 55 cancer patients were found in 15 families including 41 cases of colorectal carcinoma with an average of 2.73 colorectal carcinomas developed per family. Thirty out of forty-one (73%) patients were diagnosed before age of 50 years. Proximal colon was involved in 51% of patients, while anus and rectum were 40 %. Synchronous and metachronous multiple colorectal cancers developed in 5 patients (12%). Two thirds of families belonged to Lynch II syndrome, and total 18 extracolonic malignancies in 14 patients were identified. Gastric carcinoma was the most common extracolonic types. In 15 HNPCC probands, no mutation was detected in the poly-(A)8 tract of exon 8 of M3 cholinergic receptor gene.

CONCLUSIONM3 cholinergic receptor gene might have little relation with HNPCC in Chinese population. The criteria for Chinese HNPCC are useful and practical in clinical application.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; genetics ; pathology ; Family Characteristics ; ethnology ; Family Health ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Poly A ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; genetics

Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is featured with motor disorder and nonmotor manifestations including psychological symptoms, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and paresthesia, which results in great inconvenience to the patients'life. The apolipoprotein (Apo) superfamily, as a group of potentially modifiable biomarkers in clinical practice, is of increasing significance in the diagnosis, evaluation, and prognosis of PD. The present review summarized the current understanding and emerging findings of the relationship between Apo superfamily and PD. Data Sources:All literatures were identified by systematically searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane electronic databases with terms"Parkinson disease," "apolipoprotein," and their synonyms until May 2017. Study Selection: We have thoroughly examined titles and abstracts of all the literatures that met our search strategy and the full text if the research is identified or not so definite. Reference lists of retrieved articles were also scrutinized for additional relevant studies. Results: The levels of plasma ApoA1 are inversely correlated with the risk of PD and the lower levels of ApoA1 trend toward association with poorer motor performance. Higher ApoD expression in neurons represents more puissant protection against PD, which is critical in delaying the neurodegeneration process of PD. It is suggested that APOE alleles are related to development and progression of cognitive decline and age of PD onset, but conclusions are not completely identical, which may be attributed to different ApoE isoforms. APOJ gene expressions are upregulated in PD patients and it is possible that high ApoJ level is an indicator of PD dementia and correlates with specific phenotypic variations in PD. Conclusions: The Apo superfamily has been proved to be closely involved in the initiation, progression, and prognosis of PD. Apos and their genes are of great value in predicting the susceptibility of PD and hopeful to become the target of medical intervention to prevent the onset of PD or slow down the progress. Therefore, further large?scale studies are warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms of Apos in PD.

The incidence of chemotherapy-induced stomatitis is very high in the pediatric patients with malignant tumor. The pain, eating disorders and malnutrition caused induced by stomatitis influence children's quality of life seriously. They even influence the progress of chemotherapy regimens. This paper summarizes the causes, risk factors, the grading standard, prevention and nursing measures of chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. It indicates that the prevention measures should be combined with the treatment for chemotherapy-induced stomatitis at the same time. Medical staff should evaluate the oral cavity problems of the pediatric patients and make oral nursing plans for every patient according to their chemotherapy regimens, in order to accelerate the healing process of chemotherapy-induced stomatitis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate a new operation method for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH).

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-nine patients with BPH were treated by the combined use of transurethral electrovaporization ablation of the prostate(TUVP) and transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP).

RESULTSThe procedure was successful and the results were satisfactory, with little bleeding and no serious complication. IPSS decreased from 29.0 preoperatively to 7.6 postoperatively (P < 0.05) and Qmax increased from 5.8 ml/s preoperatively to 14.8 ml/s postoperatively(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe combined use of TUVP and TURP is a safe, effective and ideal method for the treatment of BPH.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Electrosurgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on dendritic cell (DC) development. First, HUVEC were isolated from human umbilical cord by collagenase digestion, and then the morphology, immunophenotypes and functions were identified. Furthermore, the HUVEC were cocultured with CD14(+) monocytes under the cytokine condition for detecting the influence of HUVEC on differentiation of CD14(+) cells to DC. The phenotype of dendritic cells derived from CD14(+) cells was analyzed by flow cytometry, the immunoregulatory function of DC was tested by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The change of IL-6 and VEGF as well as EPK and p38 signal pathway were analyzed by neutral antibody experiment and Western blot. The results showed that HUVEC isolated from human umbilical cord were characterized by spindle-shaped morphology, homogenous immunophenotypes (vWF(+)CD31(+)CD73(+)CD45(-)HLA-DR(-)CD86(-)CD34(low)), Dil-Ac-LDL incorporation ability and forming capillary-like structures. Following stimulation with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plus interleukin-4 (IL-4), HUVEC cocultures could inhibit the initial differentiation of CD14(+) monocyte to DC. Interestingly, IL-6 and VEGF enhanced the suppression effect of HUVEC on generation of DC via activation of the ERK or p38 mitogen activated protein kinase pathway. It is concluded that HUVEC are involved in DC development and can suppress the differentiation of monocyte to DC.
Cell Differentiation ; Coculture Techniques ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Monocytes ; cytology