ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of inhaled tiotropium capsule on adult bronchial asthma.MethodsThirty-four adult asthma patients were randomized into two groups.We evaluated the addition of tiotropium bromide to an inhaled glucocorticoid in the treatment group( n =17 ),as compared with the addition of the LABA Formoterol in the control group ( n =17 ).Serial measurements of lung function,symptom control and quality of life were performed.ResultsAfter 8 weeks of treatment,peak expiratory flow (PEF) in the addition of tiotropium bromide group[ ( 359 ± 12 ) L/min vs.( 275 ± 5 ) L/min,P ＜ 0.05 ] and the addition of the LABA Formoterol group [ ( 346 ± 11 ) L/min vs.( 275 ± 9 ) L/min,P ＜ 0.05 ] were significantly higher than those before treatment.The forced expiratory volumes in one second ( FEV1 )were also significantly elevated in both groups [ Tiotropium bromide group:( 2.80 ± 0.28 ) L vs.( 2.30 ± 0.28 ) L,P ＜ 0.05 ; LABA Formoterol group:( 2.69 ± 0.34 ) L vs.( 2.25 ± 0.34 ),P ＜ 0.05 ] compared with pre-treatment.Average dose of emergent drug ( ventolin ) usage were decreased in both groups after treatment [ Tiotropium bromide group:(0.96 ± 0.34 ) puff/d vs.(4.11 ± 1.03 ) puff/d,t =3.05,P ＜ 0.05 ; LABA Formoterol group:( 0.88 ± 0.44 )puff/day vs.( 4.43 ± 0.87 ) puff/day,t =3.23,P ＜ 0.05 ].Meanwhile,significantly improved quality of life scores and alleviation of asthma symptom were found in both groups as compared with baseline ( P ＜ 0.05).However,no significant differences in the above variables after treatment were found between two groups( P ＞0.05 ).ConclusionWhen added to an inhaled glucocorticoid,tiotropium improved symptoms and lung function in patients with inadequately controlled asthma.Its effects appeared to be equivalent to the addition of Formoterol.

Objective To analyze the incidence,clinical feature and the risk factors of invasive fungal infection in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods We retrospectively summaried the invasive fungal infection in our PICU from Jan 2007 to Dec 2009 in order to analyze the incidence, clinical feature and the risk factors of invasive fungal infection in PICU. Multiple clinical data were collected such as pediatric critical illness score, mechanical ventilation, urinary drainage tube, indwelling gastric canal and continuous blood purification. Results ( 1 ) The incidence rate of invasive fungal infection was 1.65 % ( 35/2 116 ). The morbidity was 20. 00% ( 7/35 ). ( 2 ) Mean infected day was ( 10. 4 ±- 8. 3 ) d after admission. The clinical manifestations included fungal pneumonia( 60. 0% ), peritonitis ( 14. 3% ), urinary tract infection ( 11.4% ),intestinal tract infection(8. 6% ) ,sepsis(2. 9% ) and meningitis(2. 9% ). All of the patients had used broad spectrum antibiotic. (3) The risk factors of invasive fungal infection included lower pediatric critical illness score, mechanical ventilation, indwelling gastric tube, urinary drainage tube and continuous blood purification.(4) Candia albicans was the predominant pathogen in invasive fungal infection. Conclusion Invasive fungal infection has become one of the main nosocomial infection in PICU. Lung is most commonly involved and candida albicans is the major pathogen. Using antibiotics appropriately, decreasing unnecessary invasive performance,and rationally using antifungal agent mi.ght be effective strategy for invasive fungal infection in PICU.

Objective To study the relationship between the stenosis content of carotid artery and the degree of homocysteine (Hcy) by analyzing the level changes of Hcy in ischemic stroke patients.Methods One hundred and thirty patients of carotid artery stenosis with ischemic stroke were divided into four groups based on the degrees of carotid artery stenosis determined by ultrasound Doppler flow imaging:the slight stenosis group (32patients),the moderate group (35 patients),the severe group (33 patients) and the total occlusion group (30 patients).Meanwhile,30 healthy people were chosen as the control group.The levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy),total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of each group were measured,and the results were compared with those of the control group.Results It was found that the serum Hcy level in ischemic stroke group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05),whereas the variations ofTC,TG,HDL and LDL levels between the ischemic stroke group and the control group could be neglected (P＞0.05).An obviously increased order of serum Hcy levels was observed as the following,the control group,the slight stenosis group,the moderate group,the severe group as well as the total occlusion group.The difference between every two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The level of serum Hcy was positive correlated to the content of carotid artery stenosis (r=0.835,P＜0.05).However,no correlation was found between the carotid artery stenosis and each level of TC,TG and LDL (r=0.031,0.012,0.018,respectively,P＞0.05).Conclusions The serum Hcy level is closely related to the degree of carotid artery stenosis,and high level Hcy is suggested to be one of major risk factors for ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Wenyang Chubi Decoction (WYCBD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and collagen-I (COL-I) in a mouse model of scleroderma. METHODS: Scleroderma was induced in BALB/c mice by daily local injection of bleomycin for three weeks and the mice were randomly divided into untreated, WYCBD-treated and normal saline (NS) treated groups, with another group of BALB/c mice as normal control. WYCBD and NS were given orally for one month respectively. Histopathology in the skin and lungs of the mice were examined. The CTGF and COL-I expressions in the skin or skin lesions were detected by immunohistochemical Elivision assay. RESULTS: The expression levels of CTGF and COL-I in the untreated group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P<0.05). Compared with the NS-treated group, the WYCBD-treated group had significant improvement in the skin and lung histopathology and remarkably decreased expression levels of CTGF and COL-I (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Scleroderma mice showed high expressions of CTGF and COL-I in the skin. WYCBD had the effects of decreasing the CTGF and COL-I expressions and improving the skin fibrosis.

50.0% and increased year by year,the rate of aminoglycoside resistance

Brucellacapt is a new serological test based on immunocapture-agglutination technique that has been used in many countries ,but there was no related article reported in China .The value of the Brucellacapt method in diagnosing human brucellosis was evaluated in this study .Among 120 suspected patients ,75 patients and 45 negatives were diagnosed by SAT and RBPT method combination with their clinical symptoms .Sera from all 120 people were tested by the method of Brucella-capt and iELISA ,and the results were ,consequently ,analyzed and compared .It showed that sensitivity ,specificity ,consis-tency rate ,Kappa value ,and area under ROC curve were found to be 82 .7% ,88 .9% ,85 .0% ,0 .69 ,and 0 .86 ,respectively for Brucellacapt ,whereas they were found to be 90 .7% ,64 .4% ,80 .8% ,0 .57 ,and 0 .78 for iELISA .In conclusion ,specific-ity ,consistency rate ,Kappa value ,and area under ROC curve were higher in Brucellacapt method than that in iELISA .How-ever ,the sensitivity of iELISA is higher .

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; pharmacology ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Regeneration ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Aged ; Ear Neoplasms ; pathology ; Ear, Middle ; pathology ; Female ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; pathology ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the validity of original plasma cortisol level and responses to lowdose ACTH stimulation test in assessing the severity of critical illness.Method Original level of cortisol and cortisol concentrations 30 min after administration of a low dose ( 1 μg/1.73m2 ) of cosyntropin were determined within 24 hours after admission to our PICU.Critical illness related cortisol insufficiency was defined by initial level of cortisol ＜ 10 μg/dL or an increment cortisol [ Δmax =Stimulated plasma cortisol level (T1) -initial cortisol level (T0)]≤ 9 μg/dL.Results Ninety-five consecutive patients were admitted to PICU from May 2010 to April 2011.The patients were assigned to severe sepsis group (35/95),major operation group (30/95),and other critical illness group (30/95).Overall mortality was 12.6％ (12/95).The initial and stimulated plasma cortisol levels in three groups were (37.17 ± 47.35 ) μg/dL,(31.52±52.78) μg/dL,(28.61 ±17.45) μg/dL,vs.(50.26±48.21) μg/dL,(58.56±73.21)μg/dL, (42.41 ± 13.56) μg/dL,respectively.There were no significantly differences between above groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The incidence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in this study was 55.8％.The incidences of CIRCI were 60％,53.3％,and 53.3％ in severe sepsis,other critical illness and major surgery illness,respectively ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The morbidity of CIRCI and normal response group were 7.5％ and 19％ (P ＞0.05).The levels of T0 and T1 were related to the PCIS (P ＜0.05). Conclusions CIRCI is often seen in children with critical illness. And a low-dose ACTH stimulation test can be used to evaluate the adrenal function in critical illness.However,there is no significant correlation between CIRCI and mortality of critically ill children in this study.

Objective To investigate the clinical and image features of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) presented as isolated intracranial hypertension.Methods The medical records of patients with diagnosis of CVST presented as isolated intracranial hypertension were reviewed.Clinical features and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed.Results Twenty cases of CVST were included,all these patients were clinically presented as isolated intracranial hypertension.The male to female ratio was 13:7,and the average age was (38.3 ± 11.7) years old.None of the patients was obesity.The visual acuity was lower than 0.1 in 42.5％ (17/40)of the eyes.Possible risk factors relevant to CVST were found in 11 cases (55％),including head trauma for 4 cases,autoimmune disease for 2 cases,and other causes of single case including spontaneous abortion,phlebitis,otitis media postoperative,trigeminal nerve microvascular decompression surgery and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.Image analysis showed that lateral sinus thrombosis was involved in 85％ (17/20) of the patients,while superior sagittal sinus was involved in 35％ (7/20),and 65％ (13/20) of the patients were isolated lateral sinus thrombosis.Conclusions Young male predominance is found in CVST patients which presented as isolated intracranial hypertension but severe visual function loss.Risk factors such as head trauma are commonly found in these patients.Most of the patients are isolated lateral sinus thrombosis,with lateral sinus narrowing as the most common abnormal findings in magnetic resonance venogram.