Objective: To analyze the influencing factors in thrombin titration for the determination of anticoagulant activity of Whitmania Pigra Whitman. Methods: The white porcelain plates were used as the titration carriers instead of tubes in the titration ( called white porcelain method for short) . The effect of different carriers, interval time of titration and thrombin concentration on the results of anticoagulant activity test was studied. Results:Under the same conditions, the anticoagulant activity was more accurate and stable using white porcelain method. Using white porcelain method with 20 u·ml-1 or 10 u·ml-1 as the thrombin concentration and titrating 5μl each time, once every minute, the thrombin consumption volume was linear with the sample concentration within the range of 0. 125-0. 333 g·ml-1(r20 =0. 961 and r10 =0. 992), and the anticoagulant activity respectively was (33. 08 ± 2. 64) and (31. 24 ±1.32) u·g-1(RSD20 =8.0% and RSD10 =4.2%). As for a certain sample concentration (0.333 g·ml-1), the theoretical error of determination was not more than 10% and 5%. Conclusion:The improved white porcelain method is more suitable for determining anticoagulant activity of Whitmania Pigra Whitman with more stable results and accurate end point states than tube method. Under the conditions of 10 u·ml-1 thrombin concentration, titrating 5μl each time, once every minute, the linearity, accuracy and precision are all promising.

OBJECTIVEProtein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA II), also called des-gamma carboxy prothrombin (DCP), is a sensitive marker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in Japan and the United States since the sensitive kits were available (1998). PIVKA II is not used in clinical diagnosis in China so far. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of PIVKA II in Chinese patients with HCC.

METHODSSerum PIVKA II and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were determined in 60 patients with HCC and 30 patients with cirrhosis not carrying HCC.

RESULTSThe mean serum concentration of PIVKA II in HCC patients (784.3 +/- 1364.1 mean +/- s) was higher than that in cirrhosis patients (16.1 +/- 31.7); this difference was highly significant (P < 0.0001). When the cutoff level of 40 mAU/ml was used as the level of discriminating HCC from cirrhosis, 51.7% of patients (31/60) with HCC had PIVKA II values above this level (sensitivity). Only 4 patients with cirrhosis had such high PIVKA II levels. Thus, the specificity of this test was 86.7% (26/30). Total accuracy was 62.2% [(31 + 26)/(60 + 30)]. Seven of 19 small HCCs (36.84%) had PIVKA II values above the cutoff level. Concentrations of AFP above 20 ng/ml were observed in 34 of 60 patients with HCC (56.7%) and in 11 patients with cirrhosis (36.7%). Eleven of 26 patients with HCC (46.2%) without increased AFP had concentrations of PIVKA II greater than 40 mAU/ml. No significant correlation was found between serum levels of AFP and PIVKA II that were measured in 60 HCC patients (rs = 0.101, P = 0.247). Combining the information from PIVKA II and AFP showed an increase of approximately 21.6% over AFP and 26.7% over PIVKA II alone. For small HCC patients, combining the information from PIVKA II and AFP showed an increase of approximately 15.8% over AFP alone and 21.1% over PIVKA II alone.

CONCLUSIONPIVKA II is a useful early diagnostic marker for HCC and may be more sensitive when combined with AFP in Chinese patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Prothrombin ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of empyema in children. Method The clinical data of empyema in 49 children were reviewed and analyzed. Results In the 49 cases (25 males and 24 females) aged 4.7±3.4 years, the common symptoms were fever, shortness of breath and coughing. There were 11 cases of positive blood culture, 17 cases of positive pleural fluid culture, 3 cases of positive blood and pleural fluid culture. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common pathogenic bacteria. All 49 patients were given systemic antibiotics and closed thoracic drainage. In addition, 26 cases were treated with urokinase and intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy and 6 cases were treated surgically. The prognosis was good and there was no death. Conclusion Pneumococcal infection is most common in children with empyema. Systemic antibiotics plus closed thoracic drainage and urokinase are effective, and some require surgical treatment.

Objective:To study the clinical application of ultrasound-guided puncture and catheter tip positioning in peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) among very/extremely low birth weight infants (VLBWI/ELBWI).Method:From January 2019 to August 2020, VLBWI/ELBWI admitted to NICU of our hospital and received PICC were prospectively enrolled in the study. Based on the last digit of medical record number was odd or even, the infants were assigned into ultrasound group and X-ray group. In the ultrasound group, puncture and catheter tip positioning were performed at bedside guided by ultrasound, while in the X-ray group, these procedures were performed empirically. The differences of catheterization procedure duration, first-time success rate, the visibility of catheter tip, primary dislocation rate, secondary dislocation rate and complication rate were compared between the two groups using SPSS 25.0.Result:A total of 118 premature infants were enrolled, including 57 cases in ultrasound group (50 cases VLBWI and 7 cases ELBWI) and 61 cases in X-ray group (54 cases VLBWI and 7 cases ELBWI). The catheterization procedure duration [(23.2±7.1) min vs. (34.1±7.5) min], first-time success rate (93.0% vs. 65.6%), the visibility of catheter tip (96.5% vs. 83.6%), primary dislocation rate (7.0% vs. 24.6%) and complication rate (7.0% vs. 21.3%) in ultrasound group were all better than X-ray group ( P<0.05). For ELBWI, the above five indexes in the ultrasound group were better than the X-ray subgroup ( P<0.05). For VLBWI, only the catheterization procedure duration and first-time success rate were better in the ultrasound group than the X-ray group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided PICC catheterization in VLBWI/ELBWI is convenient and accurate, which can improve success rate, reduce radiation exposure and repeated catheterization injury. Timely tracking and adjustment of the catheter under ultrasound can reduce complications after catheterization. This technique is worth popularizing among VLBWI/ELBWI.