Objective To analyze reasons of common malfunctions of air compressor and the handling during the mechanical ventilation for elderly patients. Methods 87 cases of malfunctions of air compressor of ventilators from June 2005 to June 2007 were analyzed. Results unsteady pressure:31cases(account for 36%); low pressure: 28 cases (account for 32%), startup failure: 15 cases (account for 18%); dead halt: 13 cases (account for 14%). Conclusion Well grasping principles of the air compressor of ventilators, and timely & correct analysis of malfunctions reasons play key roles in solving all kinds of malfunctions associated with the air compressor of ventilators.

Objective To investigate the status of biological membrane(biofilm) formation in the bronchi of old patients treated with mechanical air,and clarify its correlations and risk factors.Methods The retaining time in 25 bronchi from 22 cases of old patients and the results of bacterial culture were analyzed.Results Bacteria culture-positive samples are 22 cases isolated from 25 endotrached tube,accounting for 88%.Negative samples are 3 cases,accounting for 12%.Conclusion The density of bacteria is corresponding to the time of tubing in the bronchi.With the extension of tubing time,the quantity of bacteria is greatly increased.

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the clinicopathological significance of c-kit protein expression in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

METHODSc-kit protein expression was detected in 52 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded SCLC, 20 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 10 normal lung tissues by immunohistochemistry with rabbit antibody to human c-kit protein.

RESULTSc-kit protein was expressed in 61.5% (32/52) of primary SCLC, but negative in all 20 samples of NSCLC and 10 normal lung tissues. c-kit protein was localized in cytoplasm of cancer cells. The expression of c-kit protein was related to tumor size ( P =0.010) and prognosis ( P =0.000 1), but not to sex ( P =0.208), age ( P =1.000) or TNM stage ( P =0.722) of SCLC.

CONCLUSIONSc-kit protein expression may be corresponding to the prognosis of SCLC. Since in situ detection of c-kit protein is more direct than the other methods, it is helpful to clinicopathological diagnosis, targeted therapies interacting with c-kit signaling pathway and prognostic assessment in SCLC.