Objective To assesse the quality of life of patients after cardiac pacemaker implantation using the Chinese version of SF-36.Methods Ninety-eight patients with permanent cardiac pacemaker implantation were investigated before and after the operation in terms of quality of life by using the Chinese version SF-36.Results Successful surgery was performed on all the 98 patients.The previous symptoms of the patients were improved to vari- ous extend after the operation.The quality of life of the patients was significantly improved after operation as demon- strated by the significant difference of the scores in 9 domains of SF-36 when compared with those before the operation (P

0.05);however there were significant difference between D4T+DDI+NVP group and AZT+DDI+NVP group(P

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans

Objective To investigate the com and pepper fluorine in Zhenxiong county of Yunnan province, as well as the change of com and pepper fluorine after baked by coal, clay-mixed with cual for a relatively long-term, in order to provide a scientific basis for reducing fluorine intake. Methods The endemic areas of Yile, Wufeng's Songlinwan, Tangfang and Wufeng's Wugu in Zhenxiong county, and a non-endemic area Xiaguan in Dali city were selected as study sites. Ten samples of fresh corn and pepper were collected in each region, and fluorine was determined using acid leaching/potentiometry freshly and after baking or drying for 10 days or 4 months, respectively. Results The fluorine content of local fresh corn in Xiaguan of Dali city and Yile,Wufeng's Songlinwan, Tangfang, Wufeng's Wugu in Zhenxiong county were (1.31 ± 0.13),(1.65 ± 0.64),(1.92 ±0.37), (2.32 ± 0.49), (1.98 ± 0.66)mg/kg, respectively, and there were statistically significant differences across the regions(H = 27.871, P ＜ 0.05). The fluorine content of corn samples after baking or drying for 4 months were ( 1.82 ± 0.17), (26.43 ± 12.03), (39.27 ± 8.09), ( 14.27 ± 4.37), ( 14.33 ± 1.73)mg/kg, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the fresh com in the corresponding region(all P ＜ 0.05 ), and there were statistically significant differences across the regions(H = 42.512, P＜ 0.05). The fluorine content of the local fresh chili were (3.34 ± 1.08), (3.44 ± 0.55), (3.47 ± 0.74), (3.46 ± 0.93)mg/kg, respectively, in the 4 observed places in Xiaguan of Dali city and Yile, Wufeng's Songlinwan, Tangfang in Zhenxiong county, and there were no statistically significant differences across the regions (F = 0.052, P ＞ 0.05 ). The fluorine content of pepper samples after baking or drying for 4 months were (7.01 ± 1.64), (226.07 ± 83.69), (179.36 ± 148.37), (54.51 ± 34.67)mg/kg,respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the fresh pepper in the corresponding region(all P ＜ 0.05 ),and there were statistically significant differences across the regions(H = 28.822, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Corn and chili fluorine is significantly increased after baked with coal and clay-mixed with coal by farmers in Zhenxiong county, a coal- burning borne endemic fluorosis area of Yunnan province.

OBJECTIVETo establish a mathematical model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and develop a working theory for antiviral therapy in order to understand the dynamics of HCV replication.

METHODSPeripheral blood cells of 4 hepatitis C patients were cultured. Quantities of the HCV were detected every 15 min by real-time PCR. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. A mathematical functional relationship between HCV RNA and the time lapse was established.

RESULTSThe quantity of HCV RNA declined and it fell into a mathematical model: Y=3E+0.8e(-0.5467x) (r=0.9547). The estimated virion half-life was 45 min on the average.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of HCV RNA in the blood is not of a linear trend and the HCV RNA lasts a longer time although the speed of the decline is faster than that in vivo.

Adult ; Half-Life ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; virology ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Viral Load ; Virus Replication

BACKGROUNDThe feasibility of completing a lobectomy by completely video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (cVATS) in the management of bronchiectasis is unclear. By retrospectively comparing the outcomes from the lobectomies that used thoracotomy vs. cVATS, we determined the appropriateness of the minimally invasive cVATS approach in the management of bronchiectasis.

METHODSBetween June 2001 and October 2010, 60 patients with bronchiectasis underwent surgery, of which 56 lobectomies were performed. All lobectomies were carried out by either thoracotomy or cVATS approach. Pulmonary vessels and bronchi were manipulated by ligation or stapler in the thoracotomy group, while they were dissected by endo-cutters in the cVATS group.

RESULTSThere were 21 patients in the thoracotomy group and 35 patients in the cVATS group. Two cVATS patients (5.7%) converted. The difference in operation time, chest tube duration, lengths of hospitalization, and morbidity were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). The blood loss was less in the cVATS group (P = 0.015). A total of 52.4% and 62.9% of patients were postoperatively asymptomatic in the thoracotomy and cVATS groups respectively, and symptomatic improvement was obtained in 38.1% patients by thoracotomy vs. 31.4% patients by cVATS.

CONCLUSIONcVATS lobectomy is safe and effective for the management of bronchiectasis, especially for the patients with localized lesions.

Adult ; Bronchiectasis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods

BACKGROUNDThere is no validated blood biomarker available for glioma management. Invasive growth is the key feature of glioma. We assessed the clinical usefulness of plasma tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), which has less molecular weight than metalloproteinases, as a potential blood biomarker for glioma.

METHODSA total of 285 patients and 59 normal subjects were studied. Plasma concentration of TIMP-1 was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma TIMP-1 was compared between normal and glioma patients, between patients with different pathological grades, and between patients with different prognoses. Longitudinal changes in plasma TIMP-1 during treatment were also evaluated. Plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 level was also assayed and its clinical usefulness was compared with that of TIMP-1.

RESULTSPlasma TIMP-1 and MMP-9 were both increased in glioma patients compared with normal controls (TIMP-1: P < 0.001; MMP-9: P = 0.007). Plasma TIMP-1 increases with increased tumor grade. In Grade IV gliomas, plasma TIMP-1 significantly increased after "successful removal" of the tumor (paired samples t-test, before operation vs. during chemotherapy without recurrence, t = -2.131, P = 0.038), but did not change significantly at the time of tumor recurrence (during chemotherapy without recurrence vs. after tumor recurrence, t = -0.652, P = 0.632). High plasma TIMP-1 level correlated with better survival in Grade IV glioma patients (hazard ratio: 0.550, 95% CI: 0.101-1.000, P = 0.036). In Grade IV gliomas, patients with higher plasma TIMP-1 had significantly longer survival time than those with lower plasma TIMP-1 level (25.23 vs. 18.95 months, log-rank P = 0.045). Plasma MMP-9 did not show significant association with either the pathological grade or the prognosis of glioma patients.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma TIMP-1 is associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of glioma patients. It appears to have better usefulness for guiding clinical decision making than plasma MMP-9. Further studies in an expanded patient population are needed to better define its clinical usefulness.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Glioma ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood

Objective: To investigate the influence of bigeminy drug regimen on short-term clinical effects, quality of life and recurrence rate in children with adenoid hypertrophy. Methods: One hundred and thirty patients with adenoid hypertrophy were chosen in the period from January 2014 to December 2016. They were randomly divided into 2 groups:control group (65 patients, nasal glucocorticoid used alone) and observation group (65 patients, montelukast sodiumon the basis of control group). The short-term clinical effect, the levels of A/N, serum inflammatory cytokine and OSA-18 score before and after treatment and recurrence rate of 2 groups were compared. Results: The short-term clinical effects of control group and observation group were separately 73.85%(60/65) and 92.31% (48/65). The levels of A/N after treatment in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group and before treatment: 0.60 ± 0.07 vs. 0.74 ± 0.10, 0.94 ± 0.15 (P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-4 after treatment in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group and before treatment:IL-1β: (1.50 ± 0.48) ng/L vs. (2.21 ± 0.44), (3.42 ± 0.68) ng/L; IL-2: (21.80 ± 2.08) ng/L vs. (24.28 ± 2.50), (26.61 ± 3.35) ng/L; IL-4: (179.12 ± 35.91) ng/L vs. (244.70 ± 44.42), (284.07 ± 51.87) ng/L (P<0.05). The OSA-18 score after treatment in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group and before treatment (P<0.05). The recurrence rate in control group and observation group was separately 32.31%(21/65) and 15.39%(10/65). The recurrence rate in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Bigeminy drug regimen in the treatment of children with adenoid hypertrophy can efficiently relieve the respiratory obstruction degree, reduce the levels of inflammatory response, improve the quality of daily life and be helpful to prevent long-term recurrence.

The aim of this study was to set up a new method for 5, 10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping, and to investigate the hereditary susceptibility of hematological malignancy. Prepared an aimed gene microarray based on cDNA microarray theory, dual-color fluorescence hybridization was used to detect SNP loci, and DNA sequencing was performed to confirm the results. The MTHFR C677T SNP loci of 157 controls and 127 patients with hematological malignancies (30 multiple myeloma, 28 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 22 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 40 acute myeloid leukemia, 7 chronic myeloid leukemia) from Jiangsu province were detected. The results showed that after overlapping, homozygous wild type, heterozygote type and homozygous mutant type yielded green, yellow and red fluorescence, respectively. DNA sequencing validated these results. The allele frequency of 677C and 677T in patients and controls were 58.7% and 66.9%, 41.3% and 33.1% respectively, showing statistically significant difference (chi2 = 4.077, P = 0.043). 677TT genotype showed a significantly higher risk of MM (OR = 4.21; 95% CI = 1.50 - 11.83; P = 0.006). It is concluded that this microarray-based method is accurate, high-throughput and inexpensive, suitable for SNP genotyping in a large number of individuals. C677T polymorphisms influence the risk of hematological malignancies. 677TT genotype is susceptive to MM.
Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

BACKGROUNDMediastinal lesions are often difficult to diagnose in clinical practice because of the unique anatomical position of the mediastinum, which makes performance of biopsy difficult. The value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of lung cancer and mediastinal lymph node staging has been widely accepted. However, few studies have been conducted on the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of mediastinal lesions. The current study was conducted to investigate the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of isolated mediastinal lesions without lung abnormalities.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with isolated mediastinal lesions without lung abnormalities for whom endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration examination was performed at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University People's Hospital, between September 2009 and December 2010. For patients who could not be diagnosed with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration, surgical biopsy or more than 6 months of clinical and imaging follow-up was carried out.

RESULTSEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration was performed for 60 patients with isolated mediastinal lesions. Correct diagnosis was made in 48 cases. Nineteen cases were malignant, and 29 were benign. The rate of correct diagnosis was 80%. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in distinguishing benign from malignant mediastinal lesions were 95%, 100%, and 98%, respectively. The examination was tolerable for all patients. No associated complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration is a safe and effective method of diagnosing mediastinal lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult