ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).MethodsDuring epidemic period of SARS,all suspected patients were isolated and treated at very early stage. Clinical symptoms, signs and changes of the chest film were observed carefully to make early diagnosis and begin early intervention. 14 SARS cases with definite diagnosis were treated by Western Medicine combined with Chinese Traditional Medicine.3 cases of them with severe type were treated by timely technical ventilation,which was nasotracheal intubition guided with fibronchoscope,with the principle of low tide volume and high PEEP to improve oxygen combination.ResultsAll patients were cured to discharge. Only two cases of mild pulmonary fibrosis were found after 2 months' follow-up. None of the medical workers taking part in rescuing and treating SARS patients and none of the family members of the patients were infected.ConclusionDuring SARS epidemic period,early isolation,early diagnosis,early combined treatment of Western Medicine and Chinese Traditional Medicine,and prompt technical ventilation intervention on severe cases are important factors to successfully rescue and treat SARS patients.

Background Patients often suffer from a few complications of neurological and psychiatric problems after traumatic brain injury including damage of cognition, mental disorders and behavior problems. Damage of cognition is a common sequela in traumatic brain injury. Numerous researchers were focus on the cognition changes of patients with mild brain injury. But their conclusions are debatable. Executive function is one of the important components of cognition. In this study,we tried to find out the executive functional alterations of the patients with mild brain injury.Methods 159 patients with brain injury caused by transportation events and 68 normal controls were assessed executive function. The executive function tests included the block design in WAIS, the Stroop test, the verbal fluency and the modified version of Wisconsin card sorting test (M-WCST). These tests were applied to compare the scores of traumatic brain injury patients with various severities including mild, moderate, and severe and with different CT/MRI results.Results Patients with mild head injury got significantly lower scores on all tests than normal controls ( P＜0.01 ). But there was no significant difference between mild and moderate brain injury group. Except Stroop test and WCST categories, patients with mild brain injury got significantly lower scores on all other tests than those with severe brain injury ( P ＜0.05). In the brain injury cases with damage signs on CT/MRI, there was no significant difference on scores of all tests except block design tests among brain injury patients with various severities. Among the brain injury cases without any damage signs on CT/MRI, there was no significant difference on scores of all tests among brain injury patients with various severities. The correlation analysis showed that scores of block design and verbal fluency test were negatively related to the severity of brain injury( P＜0.05). The age and the education level of the patients had negative and positive correlation, respectively, to executive function.Conclusions The executive function of patients with mild brain injury was impaired when the medication was terminated. We should pay more attention to patients with mild brain injury by performing various tests for assessment of disability.

Objective To compare the prevention and control effects of binocular myopia after wearing orthokeratology lenses or glasses for correction in adolescents with low-to-moderate unilateral myopia.Methods The clinical data of 46 adolescents with unilateral myopia treated in First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University were retrospectively analyzed,the patients were divided into the orthokeratology lenses group and spectacles group according to the correction methods,with 23 cases in each group.The axial length(AL),changes in spherical diopter(SD)and anisometropia between the myopic eye and the control eye with orthokeratology lenses spectacles for unilateral myopia correction,and orthokeratology lenses for unilateral and binocular myopia were compared.Results There was no significant difference in baseline AL,SD or anisometropia between the two groups(P>0.05).One year after unilateral myopia correction,the increase of SD for the myopic eye in the orthokeratology lenses group was less than that in the spectacles group(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in the AL elongation of myopic eyes between the two groups(P>0.05);the elongation of AL for the control eyes in the orthokeratology lenses group was more than that in the spectacles group;the increase of SD for the myopic eyes in the orthokeratology lens group was lower than that in the spectacles group(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in the increase of SD for the control eyes between the two groups(P>0.05);the anisometropia of patients in the orthokeratology lenses group was less than that in the spectacles group(P<0.05).The biological parameters of the eyes before and after wearing orthokeratology lenses in the patients with monocular and binocular myopia in the orthokeratology lens group were compared,the elongation of AL for the myopic eyes with lens in one eye was less than that with lenses in both eyes(P<0.05),and the elongation of AL for the control eye was more than that with lenses in both eyes(P<0.05),the increases of SD in both myopic eyes and control eyes were more than those with lenses in both eyes(P<0.05),and the anisotropia was more than that with lenses in both eyes(P<0.05).Conclusion Orthokeratology lenses is better than spectacles in controlling the increase of myopia in low-to-moderate unilateral myopia,which can reduce anisometropia between eyes.However,the AL of the emmetropic eye increases rapidly during unilateral myopia correction by orthokeratology lenses,and the progression of binocular myopia can be significantly delayed after wearing orthokeratology lenses.

OBJECTIVETo assess the survival of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and investigate the prognostic factors affecting overall survival, local recurrence-free survival and disease-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSA total of 192 HCC patients underwent RFA treatment in our department and were enrolled into this study. Among them, 151 patients were males and 41 were females (mean age, 59.2 years, range, 24 - 87 years old). The average tumor size was (3.9 +/- 1.3) cm (range, 1.2 - 8.0 cm). Of these 192 HCC patients, their Child-Pugh grade of A, B and C were 106, 77 and 9, respectively. According to UICC-TNM system, 57, 85, 44 and 6 patients were in stage I, II, III and IV respectively. Kaplan-Meier model and log-rank test were used in univariate analysis and COX regression model was used in multivariate analysis to identify prognostic factors for survival.

RESULTSThe 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year overall survival were 84.9%, 69.1%, 60.4% and 52.8%, respectively. Local recurrence-free survival were 75.1%, 53.8%, 43.9% and 40.8%, respectively. Disease-free survival were 64.3%, 43.2%, 37.1% and 25.0%, respectively. The following factors were identified as independent prognostic factors for survival by multivariate model: (1) Overall survival: Child-Pugh classification, standard treatment protocol and UICC-TNM staging. (2) Local recurrence-free survival: Child-Pugh classification and UICC-TNM staging. (3) Disease-free survival: UICC-TNM staging, Child-Pugh classification and daughter lesion. Among these, both Child-Pugh classification and UICC-TNM staging were independent prognostic factors for three kinds of survivals.

CONCLUSIONSDegree of tumor progress (UICC-TNM stage, daughter lesion), treatment method (applying of standard treatment protocol) and patients' liver function are the most important factors for survival after RFA. So application of proper treatment strategy before, during and after RFA should be required to improve survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate

Objective To explore the effect of folic acid and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) on cervical cancer and cervix precancerous lesion. Methods 100 patients with cervix squamouscell carcinoma (SCC), 101 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN) and 109 patients with cervix inflammation (CI) diagnosed by histology were included in this study. Radioimmunoassay (RIA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the levels of serum folate, HPV16 infection and the expression of DNMT1 protein,respectively. Results The average levels of serum folate were (2.60 ± 1.61) ng/ml, (3.14 + 2.08) ng/ml and (3.32+1.74) ng/ml,and the expression of DNMT1 protein were 2.40 + 0.99,1.88 + 0.33 and 0.89 ± 0.29 in the group of SCC, CIN and CI, respectively.The relationship of folate levels and DNMT1 protein expression showed inverse correlation (r=-0.186, P=0.00l). The results in our study indicated that there was an additive interaction between low-level of serum folate and high-expressionof DNMT1 protein related to the risk of CIN and SCC, with OR value as 2.50(95%C/: 1.21-9.22) and 6.03 (95%C/: 2.79-21.72) respectively. The relative excessrisk of interaction (RERI) , attributableproportion of interaction (API) and synergy index (S) were 0.92, 0.36 and 2.59 in the CIN group while 2.47, 0.41 and 1.96 in the SCC group. Conclusion The low level of serum folate and high expression of DNMT1 protein seemed to be associated with high risk of cervical cancer and its precancerous lesion. It suggested that there might be a synergistic action between serum folate and DNMT1 in the progression of cervix carcinogenesis.

Objective: To understand the gender disparity and influencing factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at secondary hospitals in China. Methods: A total of 5525 in-hospital STEMI patients from 99 secondary hospitals of 15 provinces or autonomous regions between 2011-09 to 2014-06 were recruited including 1649 female and 3876 male. The in-hospital mortalities were compared between 2 genders and the relevant inlfuencing factors were studied by multiple Logistic regression analysis. Results: There were about 29.8% female and 70.2% male STEMI patients were studied. The in-hospital mortalities in female and male were 13.2% and 5.9%,P<0.01; gender disparity was obviously existing regardless of age, history of MI, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The mortality in female was higher than male even without diseases history and cardiovascular risk factors. Compared with male gender, female patients were usually having elder age and likely complicated with cardiovascular risk factors; they were with lower incidence to receive ECG, drug therapy and thrombolysis within 10 minutes of admission. With adjusted confounding factors, multiple regression analysis presented that female STEMI patients had the higher mortality than male (OR:1.7, 95% CI:1.4-2.0). Conclusion: The in-hospital mortality for STEMI patients was higher in female than male at secondary hospitals in China. Female patients were usually having elder age, complicated with more cardiovascular risk factors, while with less chances to receive ECG, drug therapy and thrombolysis within 10 minutes of admission.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects on the lower limbs function after lumbar or sacral nerve root transferring to reconstruct urination function.

METHODSNine patients with bladder dysfunction and normal lower limb function after spinal cord injury were treated with anastomosis the S2 or S3 nerve root with the normal lumbar or sacral nerve root to reconstruct a new bladder artificial reflex arc. Then the alterations on the sensation and motor function of the lower limb after the surgery were observed.

RESULTSMyodynamia of the legs decreased slightly, and the decreasing about half grade of the myodynamia in the plantar flexion of the ankles were detected in 4 of 9 patients with S1 transferring. And the myodynamia recovered 3 months postoperatively. No obvious decreasing of the myodynamia appeared in the other cases.

CONCLUSIONNo obvious effects on the motor function can be found after the single lumbar or sacral nerve root transferring to reconstruct urination function.

Adult ; Exercise ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reflex ; Rhizotomy ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; physiopathology ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo develop HDV as a vehicle to deliver hammerhead ribozyme into hepatocytes, the effects of modified HDV was assessed on the activity of embedded hammerhead ribozyme in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSIn vitro activity of ribozyme or HDV-driven ribozyme was assessed by incubating with the [alpha-32 P]-ATP labeled HBV RNA substrates at different temperature. Huh-7 cells were cotransfected with ribozyme or HDV-ribozyme chimera and HBV genome, by which inhibition of ribozymes on HBV transcription in vivo were examined.

RESULTSThe results indicated that both temperature and secondary structure influenced the cleavage activity of HDV-driven ribozyme significantly. When the factors were eliminated, the HDV-driven ribozyme could act as well as its counterpart naked ribozyme. While in cultured cells the HDV-driven ribozyme had higher inhibition to HBV gene expression than that of ribozyme alone.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrated that HDV may weaken the activity of embedded ribozyme in vitro, but make it enhanced in cultured cells. Thus, this study could provide a useful evidence to develop HDV as vector for liver-special delivery of ribozyme to against chronic HBV infection.

Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genome, Viral ; Hepatitis Delta Virus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; RNA, Catalytic ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEAim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chronic trimetazidine treatment on atrial energy metabolism and endothelial function in a canine model of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSEighteen canines were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n = 6), atrial pacing group (n = 6), and trimetazidine group (n = 6). In atrial pacing group and trimetazidine group, dogs were atrial paced at 400 beats per minutes for 6 weeks. Trimetazidine at 5 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1) was given one day before rapid atrial pacing for 6 weeks. Creatine phosphate (CrP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in atrial tissue were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Total adenosine (TAN) was calculated. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in atrial tissue was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. In addition, plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) was quantified with enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) (NOx) was determined by nitrate reductase method.

RESULTSAtrial CrP (P < 0.01) and CrP/ATP were significantly decreased in paced atrium compared to atrium from sham-operated group (P < 0.05) while ATP, ADP, AMP and TAN remained unchanged (all P > 0.05). Plasma vWF was significantly increased and plasma NOx significantly decreased in paced animals compared to sham-operated animals. Atrial expression of eNOS was also significantly reduced in paced animals (P < 0.01). Trimetazidine treatment did not alter the contents of CrP, ATP, ADP, AMP and TAN, but significantly increased atrial eNOS expression (P < 0.05), decreased plasma vWF (P < 0.01) and increased plasma NOx concentration.

CONCLUSIONTrimetazidine treatment affect chronic AF induced disturbance in energy metabolism but may improve endothelial function through a NOx depended manner.

Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Trimetazidine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDRenin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has been demonstrated to be associated with both congestive heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). This study investigated the effects of spironolactone, a kind of aldosterone antagonist, on atrial electrical remodeling and fibrosis in CHF dogs induced by chronic rapid ventricular pacing.

METHODSTwenty one dogs were randomly divided into sham-operated group, control group, and spironolactone group. In control group and spironolactone group, dogs were ventricular paced at 220 beats per minute for 6 weeks. Additionally, spironolactone at 15 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) was given to dogs 1 week before rapid ventricular pacing until pacing stopped. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiographic examinations were performed to detect structural and functional changes of the atrium. Swan2 Ganz floating catheters were used to measure hemadynamics variances. Atrial effective refractory period (AERP), AERP dispersion (AERPd), intra- and inter-atrium conduction time (CT) and intra-atrium conduction velocity (CV) were determined. The inducibility and duration of AF were also measured in all groups. Finally, atrial fibrosis was quantified with Masson staining.

RESULTSAERP did not change significantly after dogs were ventricular paced for 6 weeks. However, AERPd, intra- and inter-atrium CT increased significantly, and CV decreased apparently, which was negatively correlated to the atrial fibrosis (r = -0.74, P < 0.05). Simultaneously, left atriums were enlarged and cardiac hemadynamics worsened in pacing dogs. Although spironolactone could not affect cardiac hemadynamics effectively, it can obviously improve left atrial ejection fraction (P < 0.05). Spironolactone treatment did not alter AERP duration, but this medicine dramatically decreased AERPd (P < 0.05), shortened intra- and inter-atrium conduction time (P < 0.05), and increased atrium CV. Moreover, spironolactone decreased the inducibility and duration of AF (P < 0.05), as well as atrial fibrosis (P < 0.01) induced by chronic rapid ventricular pacing.

CONCLUSIONSpironolactone contributes to AF prevention in congestive heart failure dogs induced by chronic rapid ventricular pacing, which is related to atrial fibrosis reduction and independent of hemadynamics.

Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; prevention & control ; Cardiac Volume ; Collagen ; analysis ; Dogs ; Heart Atria ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Spironolactone ; therapeutic use