Objective: To evaluate the role of transesop hageal echocardiography (TEE) in monitoring patients during radiofrequency cathe ter ablation (RFCA). Methods: Thirty-one RFCA procedures were perfo rmed in 25 patients with left side accessory pathway and 4 patients with right s ide accessory pathway. Under local lidocain gel anesthesia, all patients were mo nitored during RFCA with TEE. Results: TEE was used to detect underl ying heart diseases in 3 patients, guide transseptal catheterization in 3, and f ind transient moderate mitral regrugitation in 2 during RFCA. It helped position the RFCA catheter's tip, and evaluate for possible complications in all patient s.Conclusion: This study suggestes that TEE might be useful in RFCA procedures under local anesthesia.

To reduce the problems of poor solubility, high in vivo dosage requirement, and weak targeting ability of paclitaxel (PTX), a hyaluronic acid-octadecylamine (HA-ODA)-modified nano-structured lipid carrier (HA-NLC) was constructed. HA-ODA conjugates were synthesized by an amide reaction between HA and ODA. The hydrophobic chain of HA-ODA can be embedded in the lipid core of the NLC to obtain HA-NLC. The HA-NLC displayed strong internalization in cluster determinant 44 (CD44) highly expressed MCF-7 cells, and endocytosis mediated by the CD44 receptor was involved. The HA-NLC had an encapsulation efficiency of PTX of 72.0%. The cytotoxicity of the PTX-loaded nanoparticle HA-NLC/PTX in MCF-7 cells was much stronger than that of the commercial preparation Taxol®. In vivo, the HA-NLC exhibited strong tumor targeting ability. The distribution of the NLCs to the liver and spleen was reduced after HA modification, while more nanoparticles were aggregated to the tumor site. Our results suggest that HA-NLC has excellent properties as a nano drug carrier and potential for in vivo targeting.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in cervical carcinoma and their clinical significance.

METHODSImmunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in 72 cases of invasive carcinoma of cervix (ICC) and 16 cases of normal cervical epithelium remote from tumor (NCE), and the relationship between the expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in ICC and some factors relating to clinical pathology of cervical carcinoma such as histopathological grading, lymph node metastasis, stroma involvement and FIGO staging were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe rates of positive expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 in ICC were significantly higher than those in NCE. COX-2: 88.9% in group ICC and 12.5% in group NCE, P = 0.000. MMP-9: 94.4% in group ICC and 43.8% in group NCE, P = 0.000. The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and stroma involvement (r = 0.296, P = 0.012 in group ICC and r = 0.257, P = 0.029 in group NCE, respectively). The expression of MMP-9 was positively correlated with FIGO staging (r = 0.329, P = 0.005) and histopathological grading (r = 0.351, P = 0.003). The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with the expression of MMP-9 in ICC (r = 0.297, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONThe overexpressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 are closely related to the invasion and growth of cervical carcinoma. The tissue with overexpression of COX-2 has strong invasion ability. COX-2 and MMP-9 have synergistic effect on proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Detecting the expression of both COX-2 and MMP-9 may be of value in further understanding the biological behavior and predicting the prognosis of cervical carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the value of Xstrain technology in the evaluation of cardiac function in children with tonsil adenoidal hypertrophy (TAH).

METHODSThirty-five children with TAH (TAH group) and 20 normal age-matched children (control group) were enrolled. The left ventricular wall movement in the vertical, radial and circumferential directions and the right ventricular tricuspid annulus movement were detected using Xstrain technology.

RESULTSThe systolic and early diastolic velocities of tricuspid annulus in the TAH group were higher than those in the control group. The systolic and diastolic circumferential velocities of the middle lateral wall and back wall of left ventricular in the TAH group were lower than those in the control group. The systolic and early diastolic vertical velocities of the basement of left ventricular wall in the TAH group were higher than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in the radial velocity between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSEarly changes in the cardiac function can be found by Xstrain technology in children with TAH. Xstrain technology can provide a reliable basis for cardiovascular evaluation in children with TAH.

Adenoids ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Function Tests ; methods ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male

OBJECTIVETo assess the regional left ventricular systolic function of children with Kawasaki disease before and after treatment by vector myocardial strain and strain rate imaging (VSI) technology.

METHODSThe regional left ventricular systolic function was assessed using VSI technology in 32 children with Kawasaki disease before treatment and one month after treatment and in 30 age-matched normal children.

RESULTSNine segments of the left ventricular in the Kawasaki disease group before treatment had decreased longitudinal peak systolic strain rate (LSRs) compared with the normal control group. After treatment, the LSRs in 9 segments in the Kawasaki disease group increased, but 6 segments had decreased LSRs compared with the normal control group. The radial peak systolic strain rate (RSRs) of 8 segments in the Kawasaki disease group before treatment was lower than that in the control group. After treatment, only one segment had decreased RSRs compared with the control normal group and 5 segments had increased RSRs compared with that before treatment. The circumferential peak systolic velocity (CVs) of 6 segments in the Kawasaki disease group before treatment group was lower than that in the control normal group. After treatment, only one segment had decreased CVs in the Kawasaki disease group compared with the control normal group and 3 segments had increased CVs compared with that before treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe regional left ventricular systolic function in children with Kawasaki disease before and after treatment can be accurately assessed using VSI technology, which shows the clinical significance of this technology in assessment of treatment outcome in children with Kawasaki disease.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Stress, Mechanical ; Systole ; physiology ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

Microalgae biodiesel can solve these problems currently of plants materials,such as:shortage of arable land,impact of climate change for production and to lead high crop prices and so on.Constructing "engineered microalgae" through transgenic technology,the microalgae have capacity of high growth,shorter periods of growth and several times higher oil production than terrestrial plants.Furthermore,sea water can be as its natural medium for industrial production.The advantages of microalgae biodiesel,current status and progress of researches on engineered microalgae as well as product technologies of microalgal biodiesel was introduced.

OBJECTIVEWe aim to describe the environment iodine concentration in salt, water and soil along Zhejiang Province coast in the China foreland. It will be helpful for us to judge whether this area is insufficient in iodine and universal iodized salt is necessary or not.

METHODSWe collected iodized salt samples, drinking water samples (tap water in the towns, and well water or spring water in the villages), water samples from different sources (ditches, lakes, rivers) and soil samples through random sampling in June, 2005. Salt, water and soil iodine was detected by arsenic-cerium redox method. Statistical analysis was expressed as mean+/-SEM by Windows SPSS 13.0.

RESULTS(1) The iodine concentration in salt was 27.9+/-4.33 mg/kg (n=108). (2) Seventy-five water samples were collected. The water iodine value was 0.6-84.8 microg/L (mean of 11.66 mug/L). The watershed along the Qiantang River has significantly higher iodine content than the water in Lin'an in mountain area (P<0.01). The iodine content and mean iodine content of tap water, well or spring water and natural water sources were 4.30+/-2.43 microg/L (n=34), 23.59+/-27.74 microg/L (n=19) and 12.72+/-10.72 microg/L (n=22) respectively. This indicated that among environmental water sources, the ditch iodine content was the highest with river water iodine being the lowest (P<0.01). (3) Soil iodine value was 0.11-2.93 mg/kg (mean of 1.32 mg/kg). Though there was no statistical difference of soil iodine in different districts (P=0.131), soil iodine content correlated positively with water iodine content.

CONCLUSIONIodine concentration in salt accords with national policy of adding iodine in salt. Foreland has more iodine in water than mountain area. The data reflected that water and soil iodine in foreland area was not high, which suggests universal iodized salt should be necessary. Environment iodine has relatively close association with pollution.

China ; Iodine ; analysis ; Rivers ; chemistry ; Sodium Chloride ; analysis ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; analysis ; Soil ; analysis ; Water ; analysis ; Water Supply ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate occupational health status in migrant female workers in artificial gem cottages in Guangxi and to provide reference evidence for drawing up countermeasures to protect migrant female workers from occupational hazards.

METHODSTwo thousands and ninety five migrant female workers in artificial gem manufacturing cottages in Wuzhou City, Guangxi Province, were randomly recruited to participate in the investigation. The standardized occupational health questionnaires were used to collect the information of demographic characteristics, occupational exposure and medical symptoms by interviewing with persons.

RESULTSArtificial gem manufacturing cottages in Wuzhou were mainly composed of family-workshops. There were only simple and crude hygienic facilities. Major occupational hazards included dusts, noise, vibration, hydrofluoric acid, and light stimulation. The mean age of workers was 30. Mean exposure duration was 5 years. There was no occupational health monitoring records for these workers in the past years. Major symptoms included back pain, eye discomfort, and headache. The incidence of discomfort symptoms increased with age.

CONCLUSIONOccupational health protection and monitoring in artificial gem manufacturing cottage, in Guangxi have not been performed. More effective occupational health education and administration need to implement in family-type handicraft manufacturing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transients and Migrants ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the reproductive health status among female migrant workers of artificial gem industry in Guangxi. Methods Two thousands and ninety five female migrant workers in artificial gem industry in Wuzhou, Guangxi were investigated using standardized reproductive health questionnaire developed by China CDC. Results The gynecological examination showed that 181 workers in 823 subjects (22.0％) had different kinds of reproductive health problems, which included cervical erosion (7.41％), vaginitis (6.20％), pelvic inflammation (3.52％), annex inflammation (1.70％), uterine fibroids (1.46％) and other gynecological disorders (0.73％). Conclusion The gynecologic inflammation-associated diseases are the major reproductive disorders in female migrant workers of artificial gem industry in Guangxi. The reproductive health of female migrant workers is affected.

Objective To investigate the reproductive health status among female migrant workers of artificial gem industry in Guangxi. Methods Two thousands and ninety five female migrant workers in artificial gem industry in Wuzhou, Guangxi were investigated using standardized reproductive health questionnaire developed by China CDC. Results The gynecological examination showed that 181 workers in 823 subjects (22.0％) had different kinds of reproductive health problems, which included cervical erosion (7.41％), vaginitis (6.20％), pelvic inflammation (3.52％), annex inflammation (1.70％), uterine fibroids (1.46％) and other gynecological disorders (0.73％). Conclusion The gynecologic inflammation-associated diseases are the major reproductive disorders in female migrant workers of artificial gem industry in Guangxi. The reproductive health of female migrant workers is affected.