Objective To investigate the current ~atus of mercury thermometer applied in China and the replacement of it by electric thermometer.Methods A systematic review of the literatures was undertaken,and the mercury pollution caused by mercury thermometer was reviewed,the measures taken by various countries to reduce the use of mercury thermometer were introduced.The difficulty in promoting electric thermometer in China was analyzed,and some measures were proposed accordingly.Results Most of the population including medical staffs had few awareness of the hazard of mercury thermometer to the environment,while the promotion of electric thermometer was obstructed due to the deficiencies in propaganda andpolicies.Conclusion It's suggested emphases be placed on propaganda and measures to replace mercury thermometer by electric one to decrease mercury pollution.

Objective To study the clinical efficacy of axillary incision and thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax.Methods 106 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax in our hospital were given axillary incision surgery(axillary incision group) and thoracoscopic surgery(thoracoscopy group).The intraoperative blood loss,operative time,chest tube drainage time,postoperative hospital stay and surgery costs were compared between the two groups,and the occurrence of complications were observed.Results The armpit small incision group,intraoperative blood loss was (44.5 ± 5.2) ml,the thoracoscopic amount of blood loss was (38.3 ± 6.5) ml (t =6.378,P ＜ 0.01) ;armpit operation time of the small incision group was (68.0 ± 5.3) min,thoracoscopic operative time was (60.8 ±6.0)min; armpit chest tube drainage time of small incision group was (2.8 ± 0.8)d,thoracoscopic group of chest tube drainage time was (2.0 ± 0.5) d; axillary small incision group,length of stay was (4.8 ± 0.7) d,the thoracoscopic group hospitalization time was (4.0 ± 0.6) d,(t =3.552,4.215,3.076,all P ＜ 0.05) ; axillary incision surgery costs was (1 550 ± 348) Yuan,the thoracoscopic group cost of surgery was (4 290 ± 573) Yuan (t =-24.823,P ＜ 0.05).Two groups of patients with no surgical complications,chest X-ray review of lung reexpansion good thoracoscopic group one cases of recurrence of pneumothorax,axillary incision group without recurrence (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Axillary small incision and thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax have the similar efficacy,thoracoscopic surgery is less trauma,faster recovery,shorter hospital stay,but the high cost of surgery,if patients physical condition is acceptable,which can be used axillary incision surgery.

Objective To investigate clinical characteristics of smear- or culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in patients hospitalized at a general hospital to improve its diagnosis. Methods Clinical data of smear- or culture-positive pulmonary TB diagnosed in 50 patients hospitalized at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing during 2006 to 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Results Seventeen (34%) of 50 cases of smear- or culture-positive pulmonary TB aged more than 60 years, with 30 males (32%), 16 retirees and nine farmers (18%). Their main symptoms included fever (80%), cough (94%) and sputum expectoration (92%), with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in 38 of 45 patients (84%). Chest X-ray examinations showed that lesions located mostly in the upper lobes or in both of the lungs diffusedly, with patchy infiltrations, nodular opacities and cavities. Acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated on sputum smear in 41 ( 82% ) and in specimens of six ( 12% ) cases obtained through bronchoscopy with brush or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF), and M. Tuberculosis was cultured from sputum specimens in three (6%). Mean time interval between admission and diagnoses averaged 14 days.Conclusions Basic knowledge about prevention and control of pulmonary tuberculosis should be publicized comprehensively in general hospital keeping alert in its diagnosis with acid-fast staining for sputum smear as a routine test for patients with respiratory symptoms, and in some cases, bronchoscopy procedures ( brush or BALF) are reasonable options to improve its detection.

Objective To investigate the G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK 2) level in peripheral blood lymphocytes with cardiac func-tion in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods This study enrolled 40 patients with acute ST-segment elevation myo-cardial infarction (STEMI) and 40 patients with unstable angina. All patients were 65 years or older. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography, and the GRK 2 level in peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured. Patients with STEMI were followed up for 2 years. Results The GRK 2 level in peripheral blood lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with STEMI than in patients with unstable angina, and was negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac output, stroke volume, and left ventricular fractional shortening. The GRK 2 level was significantly elevated in some patients with acute STEMI and poor cardiac function. Conclusions In-creased GRK 2 level in patients with acute STEMI may contribute to poor myocardial systolic function and myocardial remodeling. Meas-urement of the GRK 2 level in peripheral blood lymphocytes may assist in the evaluation of cardiac function and myocardial remodeling in elderly patients with acute STEMI.

This study was aimed to choose the best fixing method of electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement in mice by comparison of ECG index in three different fixing ways. Changes of ST amplitude and heart rate in ECG were measured in the self-made mouse sets, tape bundling or breathing anesthesia state. The amplitudes of the ST seg-ment in C57BL6 mice and β1/β2-AR double knockout mice were elevated in tape bundling or breathing anesthesia state in comparison with that in the self-made mouse sets (all P < 0.01). The heart rate under the tape bundling state in C57BL6 mice was significantly faster than that in the self-made mouse sets (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). And the heart rate under anesthesia in β1/β2-AR double knockout mice was significantly slower than that in tape bundling state or the self-made mouse sets (both P < 0.01). It was concluded that relative to the binding and anesthesia method, fixing mouse in the self-made mouse sets, which can more truly reflect the physiological or pathological states, is a relatively good fixing method of ECG measurement in experimental study.

Objective To investigate the relation between the characteristics of body fat distribution and the cardiovascular risk factors in some patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)in Xinjiang region.Methods The percentage of body fat (PBF)and visceral fat area(VA)were determined in 155 cases of T2DM by using the Inbody 720 body composition analyzer.At the same time triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high density lipoprotein(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein(LDL-C),blood pressure(BP), glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1c,body weight(W),body height,waist circumference ratio(WC)and hip circumference(HC)were also determined.The body mass index(BMI)and the waist to hip ratio was calculated.Results In both men and women,BMI in the subjects with visceral fat obesity(VFO)was higher than that with subcutaneous fat obesity(SFO).In males,TG in VFO was signif-icantly higher than that in SFO.PBF,TC and LDL-C in the female T2DM patients were significantly higher than those in the male T2DM patients.VA and PBF in the minority male patients were significantly higher than those in the Han nationality male patients (P <0.05).After correcting the age,course of disease and BMI,WHR in the female patients was positively correlated with DBP and PBF was positively correlated with LDL-C.In the male patients,there were correlations between BMI with SBP,between VA with DBP,and between VA with PBF and HDL-C;in the female patients,there were correlations between BMI with SBP and be-tween WHR with DBP.Conclusion The body fat distribution in the patients with T2DM in Xinjiang region is dominated by VFO. The cardiovascular risk factors are not only associated with the increase of body fat content,but more closely associated with VFO, moreover the differences in genders and nationalities exist.

Objective To evaluate the role of the diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI)in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions. Methods Seventy five breast lesions(32 benign and 43 malignant)in 72 patients confirmed by histopathology were studied. All patients underwent 3.0 T MR examinations, including T1WI, T2WI, T2WI-spectral adiabatic inversion recovery, 4b diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging(DCE-MRI). Data were post-processed by mono-exponential and diffusion kurtosis models for quantitation of ADC, apparent diffusion for non-Gaussian distribution(D), and apparent kurtosis coefficient(K). All breast lesions were described with the classification by breast imaging report and data system(BI-RADS). Lesions with BI-RADS class 4B or above were rated as malignancy. Independent sample t test was used to compare the ADC, D, and K value differences between benign and malignant lesions . ROC analysis was performed to assess the role of ADC, D, K value, and BI-RADS in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions. The morphological characteristics, time-signal curve(TIC)type, and other differences between benign and malignant lesions were analyzed with Chi-square test. Results ADC and D values were significantly lower in malignant than in benign lesions(P<0.01). Conversely, K value was significantly higher in malignant lesions than in benign ones(P<0.01). The shape of the benign and malignant breast lesions, edge, enhancement mode, TIC, and BI-RADS classification difference had statistical significance(P<0.05, respectively). The areas under the ROC curve of ADC, D, K, DCE-MRI, and DCE-MRI combined with K value were 0.857, 0.884, 0.949, 0.806, and 0.958, respectively. DCE-MRI combined with K value had the highest diagnosis efficiency. At a cutoff value of K= 0.856, the sensitivity and specificity were 83.7% and 93.8%, respectively. Conclusions DKI model showed higher diagnostic efficiency than that of traditional DWI model. DCE-MRI combined with K value can increase the diagnostic efficiency in breast lesions.

Objective To study the pulmonary functions of pediatric ALI/ARDS(acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome) survivors. Method A prospective cohort study of all survivors of ALI/ARDS in the PICU of Beijing Children's Hospital was performed. Patients were divided into three groups(0-3 years of age,3 ～ 7 years of age, and over 7 years of age) and followed up three months after diagnosis. Results There were 36 survivors in total of 44 ALl patients, three patients lost follow-up, 12 died and 21 survived. Five survivors refused to participate in the study because of asymptomatic, and one was unable to participate because of lymphoma com-bined with sepsis. A total of 15 children completed the whole survey (11 patients were less than 3 years old, andfour were over 7 years of age). Twelve patients had no discomfort in their respiratory tracts. Three months after be-ing enrolled, the pulmonary functions of all children improved, especially in terms of tidal volume and respiratory compliance (P<0.05). Conclusions The abnormal respiratory symptoms and signs in most children disap-peared three months after discharge. Most survivors still have pulmonary dysfunction at 3 monthes after discharge, but better than discharge.

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of determining infarct core and penumbra using CT perfusion source images (CTP-SI) mismatch model in hemispheric stroke less than 9 hours.Methods "one-stop shop" CT examination including non-contrast enhanced CT (NCCT), CTP, CT angiography (CTA) were performed in 24 patients with symptoms of stroke less than 9 hours.The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) were analyzed on arterial phase CTP-SI and venous phase CTP SI using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, then compared with the follow up imaging ASPECTS using multiple linear regression.Results The median (min-max) scores of ASPECTS on arterial phase CTP-SI, venous phase CTP-SI and follow-up imaging were 9.0 ( 2.0-10.0 ), 9.3 ( 6.5-10.0 ) and 9.0 ( 7.0-10.0 ),respectively. ASPECTS measured on arterial phase CTP-SI significantly differed from the ASPECTS on venous phase CTP-SI ( Z =-2.812, P = 0.005 ).Moreover, the linear regression analysis showed significant correlation between the ASPECTS on venous phase CTP-SI and follow up imaging ASPECTS ( Beta =0.715,P = 0.003 ).Conclusion CTP-SI mismatch model provides a method of choice in predicting penumbra and infarct core in hemispheric stroke.

Objective To investigate the changes in myocardial proteomics in the late phase of limb ischemic preconditioning (LIP) in rats.Methods Twelve pathogen-free adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 8-9 weeks,weighing 260-280 g,were randomly assigned into LIP group (n=6) and control group (group C,n=6) using a random number table.Limb ischemia was preceded by 3 cycles of 5-min ischemia which was induced by ligation of the root of the right hindlimb with a rubber band followed by 5-min reperfusion in group LIP.At 24 h after LIP,the tissues were obtained from the left ventricle,and the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification technique and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were applied to detect the differences in protein expression profiles between the two groups (the difference in expression between the two groups＞ 1.2 times and P＜0.05).The identified differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using the bioinformatics,and some were further verified by Western blot.Results A total of 55 proteins were identified to be differentially expressed,and among the 55 proteins,the expression of 35 proteins was up-regulated,and the expression of 20 proteins was down-regulated.Bioinformatics analysis showed that most of the 55 proteins were organelles,cell membrane or macromolecular compounds,were involved in the process such as metabolism,biological regulation,stress response and signal transduction,and showed functions such as the binding affinity to molecules,catalytic activity,anti-oxidant activity,and modulation of the activity of enzyme.The results verified by Western blot were consistent with those shown by using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification analysis.Conclusion The late phase of LIP can induce changes in the expression of the 55 proteins involving regulation of energy metabolism,anti-oxidant action,regulation of gene expression,and protein folding and degradation in the myocardium,which may be the mechanism of myocardial protection in rats.