Objective The incidence of post-operative hyperbilimbinemia, which is associated with poor outcomes in patients, was reported to be increased in recent years though it has been a rare complication for cardiac operations. Post-opera-tive impairment of liver function is highlighted. We evaluated the incidence and prognosis of post-operative hyperbiliruhinemia in adult patients who underwent cardiotomy with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Methods Sixty-five adult patients who had received ECMO support after cardiac surgery from 2004 to 2008 were enrolled and evaluated retrospec-tively. Post-oporative hypethilirubinemia was defined as the serum level of the total bilirubin more than 51.3 μmol/L during postoperative period. Demographic and clinical data included gender, age, types of surgery, perioperative hemodynamic param-eters, biochemical variables, duration of the ventilation support, ICU stay and outcomes. Results The mean age of the pa-tients was (50.1 ± 13.9) years, forty-six patients(70.8%) were male. The main cardiac procedures were heart transplanta-tion for 9 patients, coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve operations for 47 patients, congenital heart disease correction for 4 patients and other operations for 5 patients. Among all patients, fifty-one patients(78.5%) were weaned from ECMO succeas-fully and thirty-thrce patients were discharged from hospital. The overall mortality rate was 49.2%. Overall incidence of post-operative hyperbilirubinemia was 55.4%. In patients with postoperative hyperbilirubinemia, the mean peak value for serum to-tal bilirubin was 104.8 (68.5-156.7) μmol/l. The hospital mortality in the hyperbilirubinemia group was significantly higher than that in the non-hyperbilirubinemia group(66.7% vs. 27.6%, P <0.01). Moreover, postoperative hypethilirubinemia (adds ratio = 3. 895, 95% confidence interval, 1.088 - 13.947 ; P = 0.037) and SOFA score (odds ratio = 1.214, 95% confidence interval, 0.987 - 1.494, P = 0.047) and APACHE Ⅲ score (odds ratio = 1.096, 95% confidence interval, 1.028 - 1.169 ; P = 0.004) were associated with hospital mortality after adjusting for preoperative levels of the total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, gender and age. Conclusion Postoperative hyperbilirubinemia is one of the complications in adult patients who undergo cardiotomy with ECMO support, and is associated with increased hospital mortality.

Objective Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides a treatment for patients with acute heart-lung failure. However, as an invasive procedure, it associated with high incidence of complications. It is important to a-vert and reduce the complications for improving the success rate in critically ill patients. We investigate the complications associated with ECMO after cardiac surgery and their management. Methods Clinical data from 117 postoperative patients[32 male, mean age (48.7 ± 16.5) years]supported with ECMO in the cardiovascular intensive care unit( ICU) from March 2005 to June 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. The cardiac operations they had undergone included coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 20), coronary artery bypass grafting and remodeling of left ventricle(n =9), coronary artery bypass grafting and valvular operation(n =5), repair of ventricular septal perforation following acute myocardial infarction(n =2), valvular operation( n = 46), heart/lung transplantation (n = 20/1), correction of congenital heart defects ( n = 10), and aortic operations ( n = 4). Venoarterial bypass was established in 110 patients by cannulation of the right atrium and femoral artery, and that of the right atrium and ascending aorta in 5 cases. Left atrial drainage to ECMO was added in 2 cases. Venovenous bypass was established in 2 patients with hypoxemia following cardiac surgery. Heparin was infused for maintaining the activated coagulation time (ACT) at 160 to 200 seconds for centrifugal pump(114 cases),and 200 to 250 seconds for roller pump(3 cases) to avoid thrombotic events until decannulation was achieved. Results The mean ECMO duration was 61 hours (range 3 to 225 hours). 48(41.0% ) patients died, 18 of them died of complications after weaning from circulatory assistant successfully. Complications occurred in 74 (63.2% ) patients included reoperation for hemostasis (n = 24), renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (n =29), nosocomial infections ( n = 32) , ischemia in the extremities(n = 5), plasma leakage of oxygenators ( n = 29), gastroenteral hemorrhage ( n = 14), hemolysis ( n = 7 ), neurological complications ( n = 4) and centrifugal pump failure (n =1). Conclusion Bleeding is an early complication associated with ECMO support. The risk of nosocomial infection, renal failure and plasma leakage of oxygenators increases with the duration of ECMO support.

Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases

ZM-1 tissue microarrayer designed by our group is manufactured in stainless steel and brass. It features an easier and faster preparation for tissue microarrays. By means of it, a group of biopsy needles are used to punch the donor tissue specimens respectively, and all the needles with the punched specimen cylinders are arranged into the array-board, where small holes have been digged to fit the needles. All the specimen cylinders arraying and the tissue microarray block's shaping are finished simultaneously. ZM-1 tissue microarrayer with a lower cost of manufacture, is capable of preparing the tissue microarrays conveniently, efficiently and quality-controllably.
Equipment Design ; Tissue Array Analysis ; instrumentation

The ZM-1 tissue microarrayer designed by our groups is manufactured in stainless steel and brass and contains many features that make TMA (tissue microarray) paraffin blocks construction faster and more convenient. By means of ZM-1 tissue microarrayer, biopsy needles are used to punch the donor tissue specimens respectively. All the needles with the punched specimen cylinders are arrayed into the array-board, with an array of small holes dug to fit the needles. All the specimen cylinders arraying and the TMA paraffin block shaping are finished in only one step so that the specimen cylinders and the paraffin of the TMA block can very easily be incorporated and the recipient paraffin blocks need not be made in advance, and the paraffin used is the same as that for conventional pathology purpose. ZM-1 tissue microarrayer is easy to be manufactured, does not need any precision location system, and so is much cheaper than the currently used instrument. Our method's relatively cheap and simple ZM-1 tissue microarrayer technique of constructing TMA paraffin block may facilitate popularization of the TMA technology.
Biopsy, Needle ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Paraffin ; Tissue Array Analysis ; instrumentation

Objective Using twins methods to explore the influence of genetic and environmental factor on Intelligence develop-ment of children and adolescent twins .Methods It was 190 pair of twins aged 6 to 18 who lived in Chongqing were recruited ,DNA were extracted from buccal mucosa and venous blood samples to identify zygosity .The intelligence was investigated by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children(C-WISC) ,the intrapair correlation coefficients of twins were compared and calculate the genetic degrees .Results The total IQ of children aged 6 to 18 heritability were 0 .63 ,Verbal IQ were 0 .44 ,Performance IQ were 0 .57 .The total IQ heritability of children aged 10 to 14 and 15 to 18 years(0 .78 ,0 .79) were higher than that of those aged from 6 to 9 years(0 .018) .Conclusion This study suggested the intelligence of children aged 6 to 18 affected by genetic and environment , and the older ,the more influence of genetic on intelligence development .

Objective To study the correlation between fractional anisotropy(FA)and tumor microarchitecture(MVD,VEGF and celluarity).Methods Fouteen gliomas(5 grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ,4 grade Ⅲ, 5 grade Ⅳ)confirmed histo-pathologically were performed on diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)using a GE Signa Excite Ⅱ 3.0 T MR scanner(8-channel head coil,SE echo planner imaging(EPI),thickness:5 mm, spacing:0,directions:25,B values:0 and 1000 s/mm~2,TR 6000 ms,TE minimum,FOV:240 mm? 240 mm,image matrix 128?128,NEX 2).Postprocessing was done using a DTI specific software to gain FA image.ROIs were drqwn in tumor parenchyma and the value of FA was recorded.The positive expression of VEGF and CD34 was shown using immuno-histochemistry method.The VEGF,MVD,and cellularity of every slices were recorded.Pearson correlation analysis was used.Results FA(which is 0.102?0.080 in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ,0.171?0.037 in grade Ⅲ,0.200?0.021 in grade Ⅳ)has the trend to raise with the increasing grade of astrocytomas.FA has significant positive correlation to MVD(40/HP in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ, 86/HP in grade Ⅲ,101/HP in grade Ⅳ),VEGF(8% in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ,47% in grade Ⅲ,55% in grade Ⅳ),and cellularity(104/HP in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ,160/HP in grade Ⅲ,265/HP in grade Ⅳ).The correlation coefficients between FA and VEGF,MVD,and cellularity were 0.748,0.668,0.625 respectively.Conclusion As a new imaging method,DTI can reveal the microarchitecture in gliomas and be value of distinguishing gliomas of different grade.DTI provides a new method of precise diagnosis to glioma preoperatively.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the results and experiences on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for post-cardiac surgery of coronary artery disease.

METHODSFrom June 2004 to November 2006, sixteen patients with the mean age of (58 +/- 11) years old undergoing cardiac surgical procedures were placed on ECMO using a heparin-bonded circuit. Fourteen patients were male and two patients were female. Thirteen patients underwent on pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and three patients underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. The duration of ECMO support, stay of intensive care unit (ICU stay), complications and turnovers were recorded.

RESULTSThe mean duration of ECMO support was 51 hours, and the mean duration of ICU stay was 5 days. Thirteen patients (81.3%) were successfully weaned form ECMO, ten patients (62.5%) were discharged from hospital. The main complications were bleeding, infection, renal failure and ischemia of the lower limbs with the incidence of 18.8%, 37.5%, 25% and 18.8% respectively.

CONCLUSIONECMO is an acceptable technique for shortterm treatment of refractory low cardiac output after cardiac surgery of coronary artery disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; therapy ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this paper was to investigate the factors associated with viral response and HBeAg seroconversion and the relationship between them at different stages of interferon treatment in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODSPEG-IFN alfa-2a was injected subcutaneously in doses of 180 microg once a week for 48 weeks to HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients, and the patients were followed for another 24 weeks after the treatment. The serum HBV DNA load was measured by real-time quantitative PCR assay. Microparticle enzyme immunoassay analysis (MEIA) was then carried out by an automatic enzyme immunoassay analysis instrument to measure HBeAg and anti-HBe. Virological response and HBeAg seroconversion rates, and the factors associated with them were analyzed.

RESULTSThe differences in ALT baselines between viral responding and non-responding groups were significant at treatment time and at the end of the follow-up period. These differences were also significant in patients with HBeAg seroconversion at 12 weeks and at the end of the follow-up period compared with the non-conversion group. No significant difference of HBV DNA baseline was observed between the HBeAg seroconversion and non-conversion group. At 12, 24 and 48 weeks, in patients with viral response during the treatment, their HBeAg seroconversion rates were 43.8%, 21.4% and 18.9% respectively; their respective HBeAg seroconversion rates remaining at 72 weeks were 42.9%, 33.3% and 27.6%. HBeAg seroconversion was related to HBV DNA negativity at 48 weeks treatment in the multivariate analysis (OR=2.15, 95.0% CI=1.744-2.664, P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSViral response and early and sustained HBeAg seroconversion were associated with pretreatment ALT levels. HBeAg seroconversion was related to viral response during IFN treatment, but not to the baseline HBV DNA load.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the amount of portal blood stasis removal on endotoxemia and liver function after liver transplantation.

METHODSForty-seven patients who received liver transplantation from February 2006 to November 2007 were divided into 2 groups according to the amount of portal blood stasis removal during operation: group A (n = 26) 50 ml and group B (n = 21) 200 ml of portal blood stasis removal respectively. The levels of plasma endotoxin, D-lactate, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, liver function and blood coagulation were examined and analyzed.

RESULTSUnder the condition of no significant difference in sex, age, primary liver diseases and Child-pugh's classification, cold ischemic time, total operation and anhepatic time, operation methods, volume of blood loss and transfusion, and all preoperative observations. Most of observations showed the restoration of the patients in group B was better than that in group A. The plasma levels of endotoxin, D-lactate, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in group B were significantly lower than those in group A (P < 0.05). The level of plasma prealbumin in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe removal of 200 ml portal blood stasis leads to a better results than that of 50 ml, and it can help alleviate endotoxemia and facilitate the restoration of the liver function after liver transplantation.

Adult ; Aged ; Bloodletting ; methods ; Endotoxemia ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control