Objective To evaluate the value of 320 row CT upper abdominal computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the follow up of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPSS) .Methods 21 cases after TIPSS therapy underwent upper ab-dominal CTA .Post-processing images ,including MPR ,VR ,MIP ,and CPR ,were used to determine the position and patency of the stent .The best images of the portal veins were obtained .Results Among the 21 cases ,CPR image clearly demonstrated endovascu-lar stent thrombosis in 3 cases(14 .29% ) with stent occlusion and 1 case(4 .76% ) with stent stenosis ;there were no stent stenosis or occlusion in 17 cases(80 .95% ) ,their CPR image showed the contrast agent was filled completely in the stent and no low-density thrombosis was found .The best phase of the portal vein was 45 s .Conclusion 320 row CT upper abdominal CTA can clearly dis-play the stent position and patency situation in patients ,therefore ,should be regarded as the first choice for the follow-up of patients after TIPSS therapy .

Objective To evaluate fluid responsiveness by stroke volume variation (SVV) in mechanically ventilated patients with refractory septic shock.Methods Forty-two refractory septic shock patients were enrolled in the study.According to the responsiveness of fluid loading, the patients were divided into responsive group and non-responsive group.The SVV values of two groups were retrospectively analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic curve was drafted to determine the cut-off value of SVV for predicting fluid responsiveness.Results Among the 42 refractory septic shock patients, 24 were found responsive to fluid loading, 18 were not;before the fluid loading, central venous pressure, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and global end-diastolic volume index in the both groups showed no significant differences whereas the SVV in the responsive group was much higher than that in the nonresponsive group (P =0.006).Using SVV ≥ 12% as the threshold to predict fluid responsiveness, the sensitivity was 77%,specificity was 85%.Conclusion SVV can accurately predict fluid responsiveness in refractory septic shock patients.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of serum galactemannan(GM) for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in critically ill patients. Methods Study was conducted between February 2007 and July 2008. Included patients on admission ICU who suffer from suspected IPA. GM test and culture were collected 2 weekly. Chnical feature, mycological evidence and optical density index (ODI) were noted. Clinically invasive fungal infection(IFI) were defined proven, probable and possible. The patients were classified into neutropenia, non-neutropenia and treated with immunosuppressive agents, non-neutropenia and non-immunosuppressive agents. To compared of the sensitivity and specificity of GM in different patients. Results 94 patients were included, 4 patients were proven, 29 patients were probable, 34 patients were possible IFI, 27 patients were non-IPA. The positive rate of the GM was 31.9% (30/94). The sensitivity and specificity of GM in proven cases and probable cases are 66.7% and 92.6%. GM assay tended to become positive earlier than the culture 2-10(5.33±2.17)d. We found that differences in patient diagnosis and selection might account for the disparities seen for positive rate for the GM test. There was positive in three of the four patients with proven, the positive rate of GM was 65.5% for probable cases, for possible cases was 17.6%, for non-IPA cases was 7.4% (P=0.001). For patient with neutropenia , treated with immunosuppressive agents and without immunosuppressive agents, the positive rate of GM was 52.9%vs 41.7% vs 34. 6% (P=0.015) ;the sensitivity was 80.0% vs 70. 0% vs 53.8% (P=0.011), the ODI was 1.365 (0.582-6.736) vs 1. 123 (0. 623-6.868) vs 0.554 (0.522-0.823), P=0. 005, respectively. Conclusion These results show that GM test is useful for early diagnosis IPA in critically ill patients. Differences in patient selection and diagnosis might account for the disparities seen for positive rate and sensitivity for the GM test. It has been higher sensitivity and ODI in the patient treated by immunosuppressive agents.

Multidrug resistance of breast cancer is one of the most causes of failure in clinical chemotherapy. It is important to find out some safe and effective drugs to reserve multidrug resistance to breast cancer. The effect of some herbs had been identified in vitro. This article mainly reviewed the research progress in reversing multidrug resistance to breast cancer with Chinese herb. If the herb's effects and safety can be testified in vivo by further research, it will be effectively applied in clinic.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA Repair ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective To assess the value of procalcitonin(PCT)measurement to differentiate infection from non-infection in critically ill patients requiring long-term immunosuppressive therapy.Methods A prospective study was conducted in patients with underlying diseases requiring corticosteroids or chemotherapy in ICU from January 2008 to December 2009.Patients were divided into the infection group and the non-infection group and their PCT levels were compared.Results A total of 103 patients (65 women)were enrolled in this prospective study[aged(47.9 ± 21.9)years old]with 84 in the infection group and 19 in the non-infection group.The baseline level of PCT was significantly higher in infection than in non-infection patients[2.58(0.08-44.65)pg/L vs 0.62(0.15-6.00)pg/L,P =0.002].Different levels of PCT were manifested in different pathogen groups with 3.41(0.45-44.65)pg/L in bacteria infection,0.99(0.28-6.67)pg/L in fungus infection,0.11(0.08-0.20)pg/L in virus infection group(P =0.018).The AUCROC of PCT was 0.867 for diagnostic bacterial infection.By multivariate analysis,the factors associated with the level of PCT were bacteria infection(OR 5.1,P =0.031)and septic shock(OR 7.5,P =0.027),while the factors not associated with the level of PCT were age,renal function,infection site and prognosis(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The level of PCT is increased in the critically ill patients requiring immunosuppressive therapy with infection and it can be used for diagnosis for bacterial infection.

Objective To clarify the role of the virtual reality (VR)in the training of trans-femoral cerebral angiography for novices without any experience of intravascular manipulation. Methods Twenty-four novices without experiences of intravascular manipulation were divided into 2 groups (VR group or control group)with random pair method concerning the age,gender and subjects. The par-ticipants in control group were trained in routine manners while those in VR group practiced on a simulator and subsequently participated in real angiography once as assistants. Real angiography tests were performed for all participants after the training session and additional angiography tests were per-formed for VR group just after the stimulation session on the simulator. Real angiography tests were supervised and scored according to a modified rating scale by neuroradiological experts who were blinded to the novices' training procedures. Difference between the real test performance of the two groups were compared by pared-samples t test,while the correlation between the performance of the real tests and simulator tests of VR group was proved by Pearson correlation analysis. P<0.05 was con-sidered statistically significant. Results The mean scores of VR group were (27.6±3.6)and (26.4± 3.8)in the tests on simulator and real angiography tests respectively,while score of control group was (21.2±3.4)in the real angiography tests. A positive correlation was revealed in VR group between performance on the simulator and that on real patients (r=0.825,P=0.001). Real performance of the VR group was significantly better than that of control group (P=0.010). Conclusions Virtual reality could ensure transfer of acquired endovascular skills from simulators to patients so as to become a valid tool for novices to improve the interventional techniques in tranfemoral cerebral angiography.

Objective The aim of this study is to define if early change ofprocalcitonin (PCT) may inform about the efficacy evaluation of severe bacterial pneumonia.Methods A prospective,single-center,observational study was conducted in patients with severe bacterial pneumonia admitted to ICU in 2010 years.PCT samples were collected in baseline,72 hours,7 days and the ending in the duration of therapy.The efficacy evaluation was assessed at the end of treatment 5 days after and divided into the efficacy group and nonefficacy group according to the guiding principle of clinical research on antibacterial drugs by the Ministry of Health.Sixty-five patients with a mean age of (62.1 ± 15.9) years were evaluated.Five patients were severe community acquired pneumonia,32 patients nosocomial pneumonia and 28 patients ventilator associated pneumonia.The clinical pulmonary infection score(CPIS) was 7.9 ± 1.8 ;APACHE Ⅱ score was 14.5 ±5.3.There were 44 patients as the efficacy group and 21 patients as the nonefficacy group.SPSS13.0 was used to analyse the results.Results The PCT levels between efficacy group and nonefficacy group were (3.83 ±2.18)vs(4.23 ±2.64) μg,/L (t =1.249,P =0.387),(2.44 ± 1.05)vs(3.48 ± 1.75) μg/L(t=-1.959,P=0.045),(1.15 ±0.87) vs (3.41 ±1.58) μg/L (t=-2.904,P=0.006),and (0.51 ±0.17) vs (2.63 ±1.08) μg/L (t=-3.772,P =0.000) in baseline,72 hours,7 days and the ending in the duration of therapy.The change of PCT within the first 72 hours were (32.5 ± 12.4)％ vs (14.5 ± 7.1) ％.The area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of prediction clinical efficacy of the change of PCT within the first 72 hours was 0.823 (P =0.002),the AUC of white blood cell,the neuter granulocyte percentage,body temperature and PCT level within 72 hours were 0.575,0.543,0.521,0.597,respectively (P ＞ 0.05).In multivariate analyses,the change of PCT ＜ 30.8％ (odds ratio,15.2,95％ confidence interval,3.3-21.7,P =0.01) was independent risk factors of effect predictor.The changes of PCT within the first 72 hours (＞30.8％) combined with CPIS(＜6) were the best performance to predict clinical efficacy with a AUC of 0.910,sensitivity of 85.2％ and specificity of 92.5％.Conclusions The change of PCT within the first 72 hours can be used early to evaluate the effect in bacterial pneumonia.Especially,combined with CPIS can further improve the prediction value.

Objective To explore the significance of signal and volume change from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hysteromyoma before and after uterine artery embolization (UAE) in the therapy evaluation. Methods MRI was performed in 30 patients (50 hysteromyoma) before and 3,6 and 12 months after UAE. They were grouped by location, signal and size. The MRI signal changes and the hysteromyoma's volume reduction ratio were measured. Results After 3,6,12 months, MRI of hysteromyoma was changed significantly, and all hysteromyomas had lower T2WI signals than before, some of which had higher T1WI signals. Hysteromyoma's volumes were progressively reduced, the majority of which shrinked significantly within 3 months. Evaluated by 12 month's volume changes, significant volume reduction was found in submucous fibroids, and significant difference was showed compared with intramural fibroids and subserosal fibroids (88.9 % vs. 73.7 % and 68.3 %, P=0.036, P=0.019), meanwhile,the latter two had no significant difference (P=0.384). The volume reduction rate in rich cell fibroids was higher than those in ordinary no degeneration fibroids and degeneration type, and there were significant differences (85.7 % vs. 72.1 % and 63.4%, P=0.038, P=0.014). Besides, the latter two had no significant difference (P=0.364). Large fibroids shrinked more obviously than small ones with significant difference (75.2 % vs. 59.6 %, χ2=4.563, P=0.044). Conclusion MRI is useful for the evaluation of efficacy in hysteromyoma before and after UAE, which can provide the better interventional treatment for the patients in regard to different sensitivity of hysteromyoma to UAE.

Objective To investigate the MR features of pituitary abscess.Methods The MR features of 14 cases of pituitary abscess proved by surgical pathology and clinical treatments were analyzed retrospectively.Results Pre-contrast MR showed hypointense heterogeneous intensity on T_1 WI in 12 cases and iso-hyperintense on T_1 WI in 2 cases,hyperintense on T_2 WI in all cases.Post-gadolinium MR showed the ring-like enhancement around the uneven edge of abscess and the surrounding enhanced meninges connecting to the focus.The normal pituitary could not be identified in all 14 cases.The MR specific findings include the fluid-fluid level,nodule on the edge and the enhanced patchy shadow.Conclusions The pituitary abscess has specific findings on MR examination,which can be used to combine with clinical symptoms to achieve the diagnosis before operation,so that the cases could be treated with antibiotic without operation.

To improve the effect of pediatrics clinical probation teaching for eight-year program medical students,the exploration and practice of case-based instruction teaching with symptoms as main line,reading reports,and application of high quality counterfeit baby simulator-assisted instruction were carried out,which could inspire students' learning interest,and contribute to the training of students'clinical and scientific thought,their self-education and clinical skills.