Objective To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of plain radiography in the diagnosis of vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) was used as the reference standard in the assessment of vascular calcification in MHD patients. A total of 54 MHD patients, 26 male and 28 female, mean age (60.4±13.3) years, underwent both MSCT and plain radiography of lateral abdomen and pelvis to evaluate abdominal aortic calcification, bilateral iliac and femoral artery calcification. Abdominal aorta was divided into upper and lower segment by L2-L3 intervertebral space. The severity of vascular calcification by MSCT was graded from score 0 to 5. Two independent radiologists analyzed the results of plain radiography and MSCT, and inter-observer agreements were calculated by using K statistics. Results According to the results of MSCT, the calcification rate of abdominal aorta was 86.1%, and the calcification rate of iliac and femoral artery was 74.5%. There was significant difference of the calcification rate between large artery and muscular arteries. Inter-observer agreement of calcification was excellent (K =0.864-0.893). Compared with MSCT, the specificity of plain radiography with regard to detection of abdominal aortic, iliac and femoral calcification were 100%. The sensitivity of plain radiography was different according to the different MSCT score, which was as follows: MSCT score ≥ grade 1: 60.2% and 24.8% for lateral abdomen radiography to detect abdominal aortic calcification and pelvic radiography to detect iliac, femoral calcification respectively; MSCT score ≥ grade 2: 76.9% and 43.5% respectively; MSCT score grade 3: 100% and 74.4% respectively. Conclusions The sensitivity of plain radiography in the assessment of vascular calcification increases with the severity of calcification. The sensitivity in the assessment of abdominal aortic calcification is higher than that of iliac and femoral artery calcification. Plain radiography can be used to detect moderate to severe vascular calcification in MHD patients.

A questionnaire survey on chronic heart failure management was conducted in 110 physicians from Xindu,Supo,Jiajiang and Xinhua community hospital in Chengdu from January 2007 to June 2010.Results showed that 77.3％ (85/110) of community physicians lacked knowledge about prevention,diagnosis and treatment of chronic heart failure,and the diagnostic accuracy rate was only 51.3％ (40/78) in these community hospitals.There was lack of awareness of the guideline of chronic heart failure:the rate of β blockers use was 15.0％ (6/40) and only 5.0％ (2/40) used the target dose; the rate of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor use was 17.5％ (7/40) and only 7.50％ (3/40) used the target dose.In addition,90％ (99/110) of community doctors lacked the education and management for patients with heart failure.The survey suggests that the current situation of chronic heart failure management in community physicians in Chengdu is unsatisfactory.It is necessary to strengthen the training of community physicians.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Ti-TiO2 nanotubes with different diameters on the adhesion of fibroblast and osteoblast, and to find which diameter was more favorable for cells' respective adhesion.

METHODSPure titanium sheets were polished and then anodized at different potentials for 1 h with Ti as anode and Pt as cathode. TiO2 nanotubes formed at 1, 5, 10 and 20 V potentials served as experimental groups and polished pure titanium served as control group. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (Fe-SEM) was used to analyze the surface topography. Stained nucleus with Hoechst33342 were used to measure the cell adhesion. The cell shape on the sample surface were analyzed with Fe-SEM.

RESULTSTiO2 nanotube array of different inner diameters from 15 nm to 100 nm were grown on titanium sheets by anodization at potentials from 1 to 20 V. At 30, 60 and 120 min, fibroblast adhesion at nanotubes anodized at 5 V was (141 ± 9), (388 ± 14) and (489 ± 15) respectively, significantly less than any other nanotube surface at the same time (P < 0.01). Nanotubes anodized at 20 V had the least inhibitory effect for fibroblast adhesion with a number of (579 ± 14) at 120 min, and the cell shape was also inhibited. At 30, 60 and 120 min, osteoblast had a significant better adhesion on nanotubes formed at 5 V than it did on any other surface at the same time (P < 0.01), except the control group at 30 min, with the adhesion number of (198 ± 10), (431 ± 10) and (501 ± 10) respectively, and osteoblast had a abundant spread on nanotubes formed at 5 V; while osteoblast adhesion on nanotubes anodized at 20 V was (152 ± 11), (403 ± 9) and (465 ± 12) respectively, less than on any other nanotube surface within the same time (P < 0.05), and the cell shape on the surface changed to be more elongate.

CONCLUSIONSFibroblast adhesion is inhabited more or less on Ti-TiO2 nanotubes of different diameters. Nanotubes formed at 5 V have the most osteoblast adhesion, and inhibit fibroblast adhesion.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanotubes ; chemistry ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Spondylosis ; drug therapy

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelioid Cells ; chemistry ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Mesenchymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Uterine Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage

Objective To observe prospectively and systematically the effect and safety of rhendostati injection (endostar) combined with FOLFOX as a second line chemotherapy for advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods 23 patients with histological confirmed advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer after first line chemotherapy failure were observed. The dosage of 15 mg/time of endostar solved in 500ml normal saline was slowly intravenously dropped 4 h from day 1 to day 14. Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m~2 iv 2-3 h dl, d15. CF 200 mg/m~2 iv 2 h followed by 5-Fu 400 mg iv bolus and 5-Fu 600 mg/m~2 iv 22 h dl-2, d15-16 were given, every 4 weeks as one cycle. Efficacy was evaluated after 2 cycles according to RECIST criteria. Results 23 cases had been completed totally 56 cycles. Among 23 cases, 8 cases were PR, 12 cases SD, and 3 cases PD. The objective response rate (RR) was 34.8 % (8/23), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 87.0 % (20/23). The median time to progression was 7 months. The 1-year survival rate were 50.0 %. The 2-year survival rate was 40.0 %. The occurrence rate of G3/4 toxicities was low, including neutropenia(21.7 %), anemia(4.3 %), thrombocytopenia (13.0 %). Those toxicities were mainly related with the chemotherapy agents. Meanwhile transient electrocardiogram changes mild ST-T of changes occurred in 3 cases. 2 cases were mild hypertension and were symptomatically controlled. Conclusion There are better efficacies of endostar combined with FOLFOX chemotherapy for advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer, and it is low toxic and tolerable. It is worth of further clinical observation. More experiences need to be accumulated.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effects of PPAR gamma ligand rosiglitazone (RGZ) against hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats.

METHODSNinety-six neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: control (room air exposure), hyperoxia (85%-90% oxygen exposure) and RGZ treatment [85%-90% oxygen exposure plus RGZ solution injection (2 mg/kg, once daily)］. Rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after exposure. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate histological changes in lung tissues. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and leucocyte count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured.

RESULTSNo pathological changes were found in the control group at any time point after exposure. Alveolar epithelial cell swelling, interstitial edema and massive infiltration of inflammatory cells were found in the hyperoxia group 3 days after exposure. At 14 days after exposure, the number of pulmonary alveoli was reduced, alveolus interstitium had thickened and organizational structure had become disordered in the hyperoxia group. The RGZ treatment alleviated significantly the hyperoxia induced alterations in lung pathology. Radial alveoli count (RAC) decreased significantly in the hyperoxia group compared with the control group from 3 days through to 14 days after exposure (P<0.05). The RGZ treatment group showed significantly increased RAC compared with the hyperoxia group at 3, 7 and 14 days after exposure (P<0.05). MDA content and leucocyte count in BALF increased significantly in the hyperoxia group 3 days after exposure (P<0.05), reached a peak 7 days after exposure (P<0.01) and remained higher 14 days after exposure (P<0.05) compared with the control group. The RGZ treatment group significantly decreased MDA content and leucocyte count compared with the hyperoxia group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia may cause acute and chronic pulmonary injuries in neonatal rats, characterized by acute inflammatory reactions and decreased alveolus in lungs. RGZ may have protective effects against hyperoxia induced lung injury.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Female ; Hyperoxia ; complications ; Lung Injury ; prevention & control ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; PPAR gamma ; physiology ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiazolidinediones ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical value of the expression of neutrophil surface CD64 in the diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia in children.

METHODSNinety-eight children with community acquired pneumonia were recruited into the study and were classified into three groups according to pathogene: bacterial pneumonia (n=48), viral pneumonia (n=29) and Mycoplasmal pneumonia (n=21). Twenty healthy children were enrolled as controls. The bacterial infection group was subdivided into mild infection (n=36) and severe infection groups (n=12). The levels of peripheral blood neutrophil CD64 were measured using flow cytometry. Dynamic changes of C-reactive protein were also detected for each patient.

RESULTSThe CD64 index and CRP levels in the bacterial pneumonia group were significantly higher than in the other three groups (P<0.05). The CD64 index in the severe bacterial infection group was significantly higher than in the mild group (P<0.05). After antibiotic treatment, expression of CD64 in the severe bacterial infection group decreased significantly (P<0.05). The CD64 index was positively correlated with CRP value (r=0.545, P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that the threshold of CD64 and CRP was 2.8 and 8 mg/L respectively. Specificity of CD64 index (90%) was much higher than CRP (74%).

CONCLUSIONSThe determination of peripheral blood neutrophil CD64 contributes to the early diagnosis of pulmonary bacterial infection and the evaluation of anti-infection effect.

C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neutrophils ; chemistry ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Receptors, IgG ; blood

In April of 2008 water samples were collected from four different rivers,which were Wuchao gang River,Henggang River,Chaoyang River and Caoyanghuanbang River.During the sampling the physi-cal and chemical parameters were measured.The abundance and the diversity of the bacteria of these four rivers were studied.The results showed that the population level increased in the more severely polluted river while the bacterial diversity decreased;the bacterial community structure was also affected by the dif-ferent ecological conditions of each sampling spot.The bacterial composition and abundance was closely related to the water quality in the river.