Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Burns ; complications ; Female ; Gastroparesis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans

Objective To investigate the significance of serum krebs Yon den lungen-6(KL-6), surfactant protein A(SP-A), surfactant protein D(SP-D )and matrix metalloprotease 7(MMP-7) in the diagnosis of idiopathic pul-monary fibrosis (IPF) and its relationship with pulmonary function .Methods Serum levels of KL-6, SP-D, SP-A and MMP-7 were detected by ELISA in 38 patients with IPF and serum from 38 patients with pneumonia and 38 normal controls.Serum levels of markers were further analyzed by operating characteristic curve receiver (ROC), from which the ideal level of each serum marker was obtained , and the follow-up of 6 months in patients with IPF . Explore the significance of the diagnosis of IPF and its correlation with pulmonary function .Results The expres-sion of MMP-7, SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum of IPF patients was higher than that in the control group and healthy control group ( P<0.05) .The optimal cutoff value of KL-6 was 723.0 U/ml, SP-A was 67.2 ng/ml, SP-D was 98.1 ng/ml, and MMP-7 was 10.1 ng/ml.The sensitivity of KL-6 was 71.1% and 98.7%, SP-A was 81.6%and 97.4%, SP-D was 81.6%and 97.4%, MMP-7 was 68.4%and 98.7%.The sensitivity of combined KL-6, SP-A, SP-D and MMP-7 four serum markers was 100%, compared with a single serum index , the P value was less than 0.05, with statistical significance .IPF patients serum SP-A, MMP-7 and forced vital capacity within 6 months were significantly correlated(r1 =-0.574,P1 <0.001;r2 =-0.465,P2 =0.003).Conclusion KL-6, SP-A, SP-D and MMP-7 were highly expressed in serum of patients with IPF , and in the diagnosis of IPF , com-bined detection of 4 serum markers can improve the early diagnosis of IPF patients .Combined serum SP-A and MMP-7 levels can improve the accuracy of the IPF patients with pulmonary function changes , the prediction of dis-ease progression has a certain significance .

The pathogen of Kawasaki disease(KD) is still unknown although infection is considered as the most possibility factor.However epidemiologic studies showed that genetic background might be a main factor in the onset of KD.The recent papers on gene polymorphism including angiotensin-convertion enzyme,nitric oxide synthase and cytokine related with KD were searched and analyzed in this review.

Chemokine CXCL9/Mig (monokine induced by IFN-?) belongs to the subfamily of chemotactic cytokines known as CXC-chemokines. In vivo CXCL9 is mainly induced by IFN-? in macrophages and primary glial cells. In vitro, CXCL9 can be secreted by cells such as macrophages, microvascular endothelial cells and neutrophils, in response to the synergy of IFN-? and TLR(toll-like receptor) ligands. CXCL9 is a chemoattractant for activated T lymphocytes, tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes, but not for neutrophils or monocytes. The receptor specific for CXCL9 is CXCR3, a G protein-coupled protein which has seven transmembrane domain. The structure and the chemical characterization of CXCL9, as well as its effects on autoimmune deseases, allograft rejection, cancer therapy were reviewed.

Adult ; Cryptococcosis ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; Male

Objective To evaluate the subjective and objective improvement of quality of life in patients with low-temperature plasma-assisted modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (H-UPPP) combined with lymphoidectomy in radix lin-guae and coblation-channeling of the tongue(CCT) treating for severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) , and compare the surgical efficacy with that of H-UPPP. Methods A total of 81patients with severe OSAHS were divided in-to treatment group (n=42) and control group (n=39). Treatment group underwent the low-temperature plasma-assisted H-UPPP combining lymphoidectomy in radix linguae and CCT,and control group underwent H-UPPP treatment. The apnea hy-popnea index (AHI), the lowest saturation of arterial oxygen (LSaO2) and Quebec sleep questionnaire (QSQ) and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) before operation and 6-month after operation were recorded and compared between two groups. Re-sults All of detection indicators were significantly improved after operation in treatment group (P＜0.01). The total surgical efficacy was significantly higher in treatment group than that of control group (83.3%vs 12.8%,χ2=40.225,P＜0.01). The to-tal improvement rate of five dimensions in QSQ such as daytime sleepiness symptoms (76.2%vs 25.6%), signs during the day (71.4%vs 10.2%) and night (54.8%vs 5.1%), emotion (54.8%vs 2.5%), ability of social intercourse (50.0%vs 2.5%) and the total score (57.1%vs 7.7%) after operation were significantly higher in treatment group than those of control group. The se-vere indexes of ESS decreased to 23.8% after operation in treatment group than those of control group (51.3%). Conclu-sion Low-temperature plasma-assisted H-UPPP combined with lymphoidectomy in radix linguae and CCT is effective in patients with severe OSAHS, which can also improve the quality of life postoperatively.

Objective To explore the effect of the JAK/STAT signal pathway on the apoptosis-related gene in the synovial tissue of rat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Fifty rat models of collagen-induced arthritis,whose arthritis index was more than 2,were divided into the model group,the low dose of AG490 group,the medium dose of AG490 group and the high dose of AG490 group.In addition,6 rats were treated intraperitoneal injection.Then,the arthritis index and the change of apoptosis-related genes were compared.Multiple-sample average was analyzed by single-factor x2 test and LSD-t or Tamhane's T 2 test were used for two-two comparison.Results The arthritis index of the model group increased evidently,and the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2,Bcl-xl gene and protein expression was up-regulated,which was significantly different when compared with that of the control group(0.931±0.035 vs 0.351±0.024,0.920±0.037 vs 0.271±0.029,0.322±0.047 vs 0.230±0.031 ).The expression of apoptosis promoting factor Bax wasslightly up-regulated.The blockage of JAK/STAT pathway cotld down-regulate the expression levels of the gene and protein of survivins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl,and up-regulate the gene and protein expressions of Bax.Conclusion In the process of RA development,apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2,Bcl-xl gene and protein expression is up-regulated.JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway regulates the apoptosis process.

Objective To compare the efficacy of tamsulosin and nifedipine for the adjunctive expulsive therapy in patients with lower ureteral stones. Methods A total of 180 patients with stones (0.4-1.0 cm in diameter) located in the lower ureter (juxtavesical or intramural tract) were randomly divided into 3 groups (60 cases in each group). Group 1 served as controls; group 2 received nifedipine (10mg, 3 times daily) ; and group 3 received tamsulosin (0.4 mg, once daily). All patients were observed for 2 weeks. Results During 2 weeks, expulsion of stones was observed in 26 cases (43. 3% ) of group 1, in 44 (73. 3% ) of group 2, and 49 (81. 1% ) of group 3. The difference in expulsion rates between groups 2, 3 and group 1 was statistically significant (P 0. 05). In groups 1 , 2 and 3, renal colic recurred within 2 weeks and analgesics were used in 5 cases (8.3%), 1 (1.7% ) and 0, respectively, with significant difference between the groups (P