Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; therapy

Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Silicosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective To investigate status and epidemiological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in hospitalized children with respiratory tract infections from 2007 to 2013 in Suzhou region .Methods MP was determined by fluores‐cence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) in 34 332 sputum specimens of hospitalized children with respiratory tract infec‐tions in the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from 2007 to 2013 .Results The total detection rate of MP was 19 .01% in children with respiratory tract infections in Suzhou from 2007 to 2013 .Annual MP infection rates from 2007 to 2013 were 5 .45% ,6 .95% ,14 .06% ,18 .51% ,4 .85% ,25 .94% and 28 .68% respectively ,among which the infection rates of MP in 2012 and 2013 were significantly higher than that in other years (P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in female children(21 .01% )was higher than that in male children(17 .81% ) ,there was statistically significant difference(P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in children <1 years old ,1- <4 years old ,4- <7 years old and 7-14 years old were 8 .88% ,18 .05% ,35 .28% and 52 .39% respec‐tively ,and significant differences of infection rates of MP were observed among the age groups(P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in spring ,summer ,autumn and winter were 15 .96% ,28 .38% ,21 .71% and 11 .01% respectively ,and significant differences of in‐fection rates of MP were observed among the seasons(P<0 .05) .Conclusion MP is one of the most common pathogens responsible for respiratory tract infection in children ,which shows gender ,age and season differences in infection rate .Children aged 7 to 14 years old are susceptible to be infected by MP in summer and autumn ,especially in July and August ,so it is necessary to strengthen the prevention of MP infection .

Objective To explore the quality of life (QOL) and its influential factors among patients with 3 major rheumatic diseases. Methods A total of 216 patients with rheumatic diseases (84 patients with systemic lu- pus erythematosus, SLE, 83 with rheumatoid arthritis, RA, and 49 with ankylosing spondylitis, AS) were recruited. The information with regard to their quality of life, sociopsychological factors and the evaluation of disease activity were obtained by using the medical outcomes study short form-36 (SF-36) and clinic documents. Results Patients with rheumatic diseases scored significantly lower with each subscale of SF-36 as compared to those of a healthy popu- lation in China (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in combination with bicyclol for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in seniors.

METHODS96 senior patients with CHB were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group and the control group. On the basis of routine liver protective treatment, patients in the treatment group received ADV (10 mg/d) and bicyclol tablets (25 mg, tid.) orally, and those in the control group were orally administrated ADV tablets (10 mg/d) only. The treatment course for both groups was 24 weeks. Serum ALT, AST, and alterations of virological parameters were observed before and after the treatment.

RESULTSBefore and at the end of the 24 weeks treatment, ALT level for the treatment group was (208.44 +/- 94.22) and (34.47 +/- 12.79) U/L, and those for the control group was (205.73 +/- 96.48) and (44.20 +/- 21.96) U/L, respectively (difference between groups P < 0.01). At the end of the 24 weeks treatment, ALT normalization rates for the treatment group and the control group were 76.6% and 54.5%, respectively, and AST normalization rates for them were 76.6% and 54.5%, respectively (both differences between groups P < 0.05); HBV DNA loads for the treatment group and the control group were decreased by (3.1 +/- 1.40) lgIU/ml and (2.98 +/- 1.17) lgIU/ ml, respectively (difference between groups P > 0.05). The incidence rates of adverse events between two groups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONIt suggested that the treatment of ADV in combination with bicyclol for senior patients with CHB is effective and safe.

Adenine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Biphenyl Compounds ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; virology ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

The cupping spot is considered as one kind of skin change due to cupping treatment. With literature regarding cupping spot, the influencing factors and value of cupping spot in clinical diagnosis and treatment were analyzed, which could make a further exploration on the action mechanism of cupping treatment. The literature showed that the formation of cupping spot was related with cupping temperature, pressure, cup-retaining time, cupping area, individual difference and health condition, etc; cupping spot had the ability to assist diagnosis, prevent disease, cure disease and evaluate clinical efficacy. Previous studies on cupping spot have already made some progress, and played a positive significance on finding cupping rule and studying its mechanism. However, the research for this area is still in the primary stage, which needed deeper study to reveal scientific connotations of cupping spot.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Skin ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply

Objective To assess the therapeutic effectiveness of monotherapy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and lamivudine (LAM),or ADV administered in combination with LAM,in order to find the effective and secure therapy for decompensated cirrhosis patients following chronic hepatitis B. Methods Totally 64 decompensated cirrhosis patients following chronic hepatitis B were divided into 2 groups by using a prospective randomized grouping method. In group A,patients received the therapy of adefovir dipivoxil (10mg/d) combined with lamivudine (100mg/d); and in group B,a monotherapy of adefovir dipivoxil (10mg/d) was used. The period of treatment was 48 weeks. Levels of serum ALT,HBeAg and HBV-DNA were detected in week 12,24,36 and 48 respectively. The liver function was evaluated with Child scores on these time points. Data were analyzed by a blinded independent investigator. Results After 48 weeks treatment,HBV DNA negative conversion rate of the two groups were 87.1%and 78.8%.The virtual rate were 96.8% and 87.9%;HBeAg negative conversion rate were 83.9%,and 57.6%. HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion rates of the two groups were 41.9%and 24.2%. Normalization of serum ALT levels were observed in 96.8% patients of group A and 97.0% of group B. Conclusion The combination therapy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and lamivudine (LAM) could reduce the occurrence of drug resistance,and increase the anti-viral effect. It is a secure management for chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

OBJECTIVETo explore genes associated with risk classification of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by gene chip technology.

METHODSGroup A and B were both composed of three newly diagnosed ALL cases with standard risk. After re-evaluation, group B was relegated to high-risk. The control group was composed of three idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients. The gene expression profiles of group A and B were studied by Illumina Human-6 Beadchip. Eighty-two ALL patients were selected as the experimental group and 21 with normal bone marrow as control group for real-time quantitative RT-PCR (RQ-PCR).

RESULTS(1) There were 19 genes expressed differently between group B and A, including 14 up-regulated as ABCC4 and BCL11A, 5 down-regulated genes as TOP2A. (2) ABCC4 and BCL11A were validated by RQ-PCR and their expression level was higher in the high risk group than in the standard risk group (P < 0.05). The gene expression level in the group A and B was higher than that in the normal control group (P < 0.01). TOP2A was also validated by RQ-PCR and its expression level in the high risk group was lower than that in the standard risk group (P < 0.05). The gene expression level in the groups A and B was lower than that in the normal control group and the difference was statistically significance (P < 0.01). (3) There was a significant difference in the expression level of ABCC4 between the remission and unremission patients (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression level of BCL11A between different clinical indicators (P > 0.05). There was significant difference in the expression level of TOP2A between remission and prednisone good responder groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFourteen genes studied were involved in the pathogenesis and drug resistance mechanism in childhood ALL patients. Investigation of gene expression profile will be helpful for predicting drug resistance, prognosis, early intervention and target therapy in childhood ALL.

Child ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Transcriptome

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEIn children with congenital heart diseases who have undergone surgical interventions, postoperative arrhythmias frequently complicate the clinical course. "Incisional" atrial tachycardia or flutter is one of the most common forms of postoperative arrhythmias in these patients and can lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate how to use antiarrhythmic drugs and the CARTO system to treat these cases.

METHODSThere were 12 patients with "incisional" atrial tachycardia or flutter complicating surgery for congenital heart diseases in this study (3 patients with correction of tetrology of Fallot, 3 with atrial septal defect repair, 2 with ventricular septal defect repair, 1 with switch, 1 with repair of Ebstein's anomaly, 1 with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, and 1 with atrial septal closure with the Amplatzer septal occlusion). Patients whose body weight was less than 10 kg or those who did not wish to accept ablation were treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, including digitoxin, propranolol, metoprolol and cordarone. CARTO system was used to map 6 patients whose body weight was more than 10 kg and who agreed with accepting ablation for atrial tachycardia and flutter. Radio-frequency ablation was performed in these 6 cases including two cases of "incisional" atrial tachycardia and 4 of atrial flutter.

RESULTS(1) The antiarrhythmic drug was successful in 6 patients with "incisional" atrial tachycardia. (2) Six patients including 2 children with "incisional" atrial tachycardia and 4 children with atrial flutter were successfully ablated. But one case of "incisional" atrial tachycardia relapsed after 3 months of ablation. This case, however, was successfully ablated again later. No further relapse was observed during the 2 - 24 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONAblation of "incisional" atrial tachycardia and flutter is the first choice to treat the patients whose body weight is more than 10 kg and those who agree with accepting ablation by CARTO system. Drug therapy of "incisional" atrial tachycardia and flutter is palliative and it is the only selection to treat the patients whose body weight is less than 10 kg or those who do not wish to accept ablation procedure.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Flutter ; etiology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Postoperative Care ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; etiology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome