Objective To observe the level change of serum SOD in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Methods The levels of serum SOD in 66 patients with SARS were measured by RIA, and compared with controls. Results The levels of serum SOD in patients with SARS were significantly lower than those in controls, and in severe type of SARS patients were lower than those in the other types. The levels of serum SOD in the recovery stage of SARS patients increased, but still was lower than those in controls. Conclusion Excessive free radicals were produced in patients with SARS, and SOD was depleted. The level change of SOD in patients with SARS may reflect state of disease. Dynamic detection of serum SOD level is helpful for monitoring state of SARS. It may be an important therapeutic measure that excessive free radicals were eliminated from SARS patient body.

Objective To observe the levels of serum sex hormone in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), in order to determine whether there were involvement of sex glands. Methods The levels of serum E2, PROG, FSH, LH and PRL were measured in 66 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) by electrochemiluminescence, and the results were compared with that of controls. Results The results showed that levels of serum E2, PROG,and FSH in patients with SARS were significantly lower than those of controls. On the other hand, the levels of serum LH and PRL were significantly higher than those of controls. The level of E2 in patients with severe type SARS was significantly lower than that in patients with mild type.The levels of sex hormones returned later than improvement of clinical symptoms. Conclusion The levels of serum sex hormones were lowered in patients with SARS, indicating that the changes in sex hormones might play a role in the disease process of SARS. Recovery of levels of sex hormones was retarded.

OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of clinical pharmacists in therapy for patient with interstitial lung disease (ILD) induced by erlotinib. METHODS:Clinical pharmacists participated in the therapy for ILD in a patient receiving erlotinib target treat-ment after thoracic vertebra and lumbar radiation,analyzed the cause of ILD and suggested to stop taking imipenem and cilastatin sodium,fluconazol and erlotinib according to lab indexes and patient’s symptom;took prednisone 30 mg,po,qd,for anti-inflam-mation instead of methylprednisolone;adjusted the dose of prednisone to 40 mg/d,and additionally took Carbocisteine oral solution 10 ml,tid,for improving respiratory symptom;panipenem betamipron 1 g,ivgtt,bid,instead of piperacillin sodium and sulbactam sodium. RESULTS:Physicians adopted the suggestions of clinical pharmacists,and the symptom of anhelation and double pneumo-nia recovered;discharged medication plan was erlotinib 150 mg,po,qd. CONCLUSIONS:The patient with radiation history easily suffers from ILD when using erlotinib,and should use erlotinib carefully in the clinic. Clinical pharmacists participated in drug ther-apy and promote safe and rational use of drugs in the clinic.

Objectives:To investigate the clinical significance of the expression level of cytokeratin5/6/18 positive cells in peripheral blood cells from patients with breast carcinoma.Methods:The expression rates of ck5/6/18 positive cells in peripheral blood cells from 56 patients with breast carcinoma were measured and analyzed by flow cytometry.Results:The expression rates of ck5/6/18 positive cells in peripheral blood cells from 56 patients with breast carcinoma was 46.4% and there was significant differences compared with healthy volunteers and the patients with breast benign diseases.The positive rates increased significantly with the pathological staging and show no significant relationship with the ER and PR.Conclusion:The expression of ck5/6/18 positive cells in peripheral blood cells correlates significantly with the pathological staging of breast carcinoma and it could be an effective signal to clinical monitor and prognosis.

Objective To investigate the role of gray-scale sonography in the diagnosis of thyroid microcarcinoma(TMC).Methods The sonographic characteristics of 58 TMC and 61 benign thyroid nodules(≤1 cm)were retrospectively reviewed and compared with each other.The size,echogenicity,internal solid/cystic component,configuration,anteroposterior to transverse dimension ratio(A/T),margin,halo sign and calcification type of the nodules were studied.Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of individual sonographic characteristics were calculated respectively.Results In ultrasonography,TMC manifested as marked hypoechoic in 48.3%,solid lesion in 98.3%,irregular-shape in 74.1%,irregular halo sign in 37.0%,with internal microcalcifications in 62.1%.There were significantly statistical differences between the benign and malignant nodules in those findings (P＜0.001).However,there was no obviously statistical difference in the obscure margin.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 86.2%,77.0% and 81.5% respectively when using marked internal hypoechoic echo,A/T≥1 and microcalcification as a new combined criterior.Conclusions The gray-scale sonographic findings between the small benign and malignant thyroid nodules(≤1 cm)are different.Combining these sonographic signs can significantly improve diagnostic value of TMC.

Objective To analyze the clinical and ultrasonographic features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas and to assess the usefulness of transabdominal ultrasonography. Methods Twelve patients with IPMN underwent surgery, including 4 (33.3%)with adenoma and 8(66.7%) with adenocarcinoma. IPMN was classified into 3 categaries by the site of main duct,branch duct and combined type based on the ultrasonographic findings preoperatively. All the clinical presentations and the ultrasonographic imaging findings were analyzed and compared with the histologic diagnosis. Results Of malignant IPMNs,diabetes was presented in 5 cases,elevated CA19-9 was presented in 4 cases and steatorrhea was presented in 2 cases. But these was not presented in benigns. Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed all the cystic or cystic-solid lesions in this study. The mean diameter of the lesions with adenoma was (1.4 ± 0.8)cm (range,0.5 - 2.0 cm) and that with adenocarcinoma was (6.3 ± 6.0)cm (range, 2.0 - 20 cm). The mean diameters of the main duct for the cases with adenomas and adenocarcinomas were (1.0 ± 0.8) cm and ( 1.6 ± 1.0) cm, respectively. Among the adenomas, 3 cases were calssified as branch type and 2 were demonstrated with mural nodules and no colour signals was detected within them. Five of the malignancies were considered as main duct type and 3 were combined type. Seven cases were detected mural nodules and showed abundant colour flow signals within them. Conclusions Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed the pancreatic cystic lesions and dilated ducts of IPMN. Some characteristics should be considered for malignancy: clinical symptoms, tumor size and mural nodules with colour flow signals,which may be helpful for the diagnosis and management of IPMN.

Objective To construct a spatial genetic database of Oncomelania hupensis and a managing system for spatial distribution and population studies based on landscape genetics theory. Methods The uninfected Oncomelania snails were collected from the field. Collected sites database, specimen database and genetic information database were set up by using Microsoft SQL 2000, and the managing system was set up by using Visual Basic 6.0. Results The Oncomelania snails were collected from the field. The database were consummated with 676 specimens, 73 collected sites from 10 provinces, and the database could be used as a series of celerity tools with appending, querying, deleting, statistics and export functions. Conclusion The spatial genetic database and managing system of Oncomelania hupensis can be used to manage snail specimens for different studies with a clear interface and simple operation. It is worthy to renew the database for further spatial genetic studies.

Objective To sequence and analyze the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Oncomelania hupensis. Methods Four long fragments were amplified by long PCR using the primers designed based on mtDNA-COⅠ, Cytb, 16S rRNA and COⅢ gene sequences, and sequenced by conserved primer-walking. Rusults The mitochondrial genome (GenBank accession no. FJ997214) was a circular molecule of 15 182 bp with a total A+T content of 67.32%, and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and an A+T-rich region of 72 bp. All 13 protein-coding genes of the O. hupensis mtDNA used ATG as start codon. Canonical TAA and TAG termination codons were found in 12 protein-coding genes, and the remaining one (ND1) had an incomplete termination codon (T). Two short gene overlaps were found with a length of 4 bp and 7 bp, respectively. The length of 21 total intergenic region of mtDNA was 145 bp ranging from 1-30 bp. A total of 22 transferring RNA were found, all of which were typical cloverleaf structure except for two tRNASer, one tRNAGln and one tRNAIle. Conclusion The complete sequence of O. hupensis mitochondrial genome has been determined.

Objective To isolate the microsatellite DNA sequences of Oncomelania hupensis and analyze the polymorphic microsatellite loci.Methods The digested genomic fragments were hybridized with biotinylated oligonucleotide probes.The target fragments moleculars were captured and enriched.Then these fragments were cloned and sequenced.The suitable microsatellite loci were chosen and the polymorphism was screened by PAGE gel electrophoresis.Results A total of 205 microsateilite DNA sequences were obtained (GenBank accession numbers :GU204044～GU204248).The percentage of perfect microsatellite DNA sequence was 36.10% (74/205),with imperfect sequence as 49.76% (102/205) and compound sequence as 14.15% (29/205).Twenty typical microsatellite sequences were selected to design amplifying primers,and 13 microsatellite loci were found to be polymorphism.Conclusion A total of 205 microsatellite DNA sequences of Oncomelania hupensis are isolated and first reported,which will be useful for population genetic and mapping studies of Oncomelania hupensis.

Objective To evaluate the differences among five representative and useful Doppler parameters in the diagnosis of the three common types of renal artery stenosis (RAS). Methods Five Doppler parameters including renal peak systolic velocity (RPSV), renal-aortic ratio (RAR), renal-interlobar ratio (RIR),acceleration time (AT),and resistant index (RI) were measured in 221 patients before renal arteriography. Differences between the groups of patients with various clinical causes of RAS were analyzed by Chi-Squared test. One-way ANOVA or t test were used to compare the means between different groups.The optimal cutoff value was determined with the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity. Results Of the 442 renal arteries (main and accessory renal arteries) demonstrated at arteriography,214 were normal or stenosed less than 50 %, 204 stenoses 50% - 99 %, and 24 occlusions. RIR, RAR and RI were significantly different between the atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic RAS groups (P ＜0.05), while RPSV and AT were not. The optimal cutoff values of RAR,RIR and RI for detecting RAS between the atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic groups were much different (2.5 versus 1.9, 5. 1 versus 6.5, 0.57 versus 0.50,respectively) ,but those of RPSV and AT were similar or the same (170 cm/s versus 200 cm/s,51 ms versus 51 ms,respectively). Conclusions In the case of RAS (diameter reduction≥50%),it is advised to establish separate cutoff values of RAR, RIR and RI according to atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic RAS, but the same cutoff value of RPSV and AT can be applied. RIR is a good Doppler parameter in the diagnosis of RAS,especially atherosclerotic and fibromuscular dysplasia RAS.