OBJECTIVETo investigate Chinese medical features of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with pulmonary infection.

METHODSUsing cluster analysis method, Chinese medical syndromes of 196 AIDS patients with pulmonary infection were analyzed. The distribution features of each syndrome type were analyzed according to the severity and CD4+ numerical analysis.

RESULTSBasic Chinese medical syndrome types could be summed up as three kinds: exterior invasion of wind heat and phlegm heat obstructing Fei syndrome (61 cases, 31.1%), Fei-Pi deficiency and Fei stagnation of phlegm syndrome (64 cases, 32.7%), Fei-Shen deficiency and yin deficiency induced inner heat syndrome (71 cases, 36.2%). There was statistical difference in the severity degree and the distribution of CD4 among the three syndrome types (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAIDS patients with pulmonary infection involve Fei, Shen, and Pi. The pathogenic factors were related to "wind", "heat", "phlegm", and "xu". The Chinese medical syndrome distribution was closely correlated with patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cluster Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the benzene exposure level and cytopenia among the benzene exposed workers in Shanghai, China and to analyze the influential factors for the health of benzene-exposed workers.

METHODSA total of 3314 benzene-exposed workers, who were from 85 benzene-related enterprises selected by stratified random sampling based on enterprise sizes and industries, were included in the study. The time-weighted average (TWA) concentration of benzene in each workshop was measured by individual sampling and fixed point sampling, and the benzene exposure level in workshop was evaluated accordingly. The occupational health examination results and health status of benzene-exposed workers were collected.

RESULTSThe median of TW A concentrations of benzene was 0.3 mg/m3. The TWA concentrations measured at 7 ( 1.4%) of the 504 sampling points were above the safety limit. Of the 7 points, 3 were from large enterprises, 2 from medium enterprises, and 2 from small enterprises; 3 were from shipbuilding industry, 1 from chemical industry, and 3 from light industry. Of the 3314 benzene-exposed workers, 451 ( 13.6%) had cytopenia, including 339 males ( 339/2548, 13.3%) and 112 females ( 112/766, 14.6% ). There were significant differences in the incidence rates of leukopenia and neutropenia among the benzene-exposed workers of different sexes and ages (P<0.05); there were significant differences in the incidence rate of cytopenia among the benzene-exposed workers of different ages and working years ( P<0.05 ); there were significant differences in the incidence of neutropenia among the benzene exposed workers of different working years ( P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMonitoring and intervention measures should be enhanced to protect the benzene-exposed workers in the large enterprises in shipbuilding industry and medium and private enterprises in chemical industry from occupational hazards.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Benzene ; toxicity ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Pancytopenia ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo approach the effect of the donor antigenic specificity CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell (Treg) on cellular immune tolerance function in rat composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA).

METHODSUse the method of immunomagnetic beads to separate CD4+CD25+ Treg, (1 x 10(6))CD4+CD25+ Treg was transfused to rat CTA model. Collected peripheral blood 30 days after operation, and used nylon wool column to separate B cell and T cell. With the stimulation of IgM, detected B cell proliferation and the level of IgG and IgA in serum. Observed the effect of CD4+CD25+ Treg on B cell and T cell function and the survival of allotransplants, and analyzed the data by statistics.

RESULTSThe purity of separated CD4+CD25+ Treg was 95.6%. The CPM of T cell of normal control group, topical intervention group, systemic intervention group and non-intervention group were (2436 +/- 358), (2273 +/- 136), (2338 +/- 228) and (3749 +/- 245). The CPM of B cells of normal control group, topical intervention group, systemic intervention group and non-intervention group were (2418 +/- 348), (2252 +/- 127), (2315 +/- 218) and (3720 +/- 224), there was a significant difference in these groups (P < 0.01). The serum level of IgG and IgA of topical intervention group and systemic intervention group were (12.56 +/- 1.30), (2.38 +/- 0.21), (13.48 +/- 1.23) and (2.86 +/- 0.24) g/L, and of normal control group was (12.35 +/- 1.28), (2.36 +/- 0.12) g/L, had no significant difference (P > 0.05). But Treg of non-intervention group was (16.58 +/- 1.12), (3.75 +/- 0.37) g/L, there was a significant difference in the non-intervention group and the three above groups (P < 0.01). The survival time of CTA in intervention of local and systemic groups were (97 +/- 13) and (63 +/- 10) d, which were significant longer than the non-intervention group [(22 +/- 8) d, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSDonor antigen specific CD4+CD25+ Treg has significantly inhibited B cell and T cell function. It can induce immune tolerance and extend the survival time of CTA; as well local application is better than systemic.

Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Immune Tolerance ; immunology ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; immunology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the transfect results of recombinant adenovirus vector carrying tyrosinase gene (Ad-tyr) in vitro by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after the Ad-tyr was transfected into HepG2 cell.

METHODSThe Ad-tyr which carried the full-length cDNA of tyrosinase gene was transfected into HepG2 cell. The transfected cells were scan by MRI sequences of T1 weighted image (T1WI) , T2 weighted image (T2WI) , and short time inversion recovery (STIR) to observe the MRI signals of expressed melanin. Masson-Fontana staining was performed to search for melanin granules in transfected cells. Real-time PCR method was used to search for cDNA of tyrosinase gene.

RESULTSAd-tyr was transfected into HepG2 cells and synthesized a large amount of melanin inside. The synthesized melanin of 1 x 10(6) cells which had been transfected by Ad-tyr with the 50, 150, and 300 multiplicity of infection separately were all sufficient to be detected by MRI and showed high signals in MRI T1WI, T2WI, and STIR sequences. The signal intensities of MRI were positively correlated to the amounts of transfected Ad-tyr. The melanin granules were found in HepG2 cells in Masson-Fontana staining. The cDNA amount of tyrosinase gene in transfected HepG2 cells, which was detected by real-time PCR, was remarkably higher than that in nontransfected cells.

CONCLUSIONThe synthesized melanin of HepG2 cells, which controlled by expression of exogenous gene, can be detected by MRI, indicating that the adenovirus vector can efficiently carry the tyrosinase gene into HepG2 cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Melanins ; analysis ; genetics ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to mechanical ventilation and the prognosis of patients.

METHODSA retrospective case-controlled study was conducted to analyze the culture results of the pulmonary secretions in patients with pulmonary fungal and nonfungal infections in association with mechanical ventilations. The risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to mechanical ventilation were identified and their impact on the clinical outcome of the patients was evaluated.

RESULTSOf the 127 patients included in this study, 81 (63.78%) were positive and 46 (36.22%) negative for pulmonary fungal infections according to the diagnostic criteria of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The mortality of the patients with fungal infection was 82.7%, significantly higher than that of patients with non-fungal infection (67.39%, chi2=3.910, P<0.05). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression showed that such factors as old age, duration of mechanical ventilation, tracheal intubation or incision for over 7 days, diabetes, blood glucose over 6.1 mmol/L, multi-organ dysfunction, combined use of antibiotics, at least 3-time changes antibiotics, administration of glucocorticosteroid for over 7 days, and immunodepressant use were all the independence risk factors of pulmonary fungal infection related to mechanical ventilation. Old age, multi-organ dysfunction, blood glucose over 6.1 mmol/L, glucocorticosteroid use for over 7 days, anesthetic use for over 3 days and high APACHE III scores were the risk factors for mortality in patients with the infections.

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary fungal infection associated to mechanical ventilation is often the results of presence of multiple risk factors, and early identification of these factors for timely antifungal treatment may improve the prognostics of the patients and help reduce the mortality rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Prognosis ; Respiration, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and complications of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with or without transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted for 62 small HCC cases undergoing RFA with or without TACE, and in each case, the tumors were not more than 3 with a diameter below 5 cm. Nineteen cases were managed with RFA alone (RFA group) while the other 27 underwent RFA combined with TACE (TACE+RFA group). Percutaneous RFA (RITA 1500) procedure was performed under CT guidance 1-3 weeks after TACE in TACE+RFA group.

RESULTSThe complete tumor necrosis rate was 77.8% (21/27) in TACE+RFA group, significantly higher than that in RFA group [57.9% (11/19), P<0.01], and the former group had a significantly lower local recurrence rate than the latter [22.2% (6/27) vs 42.1% (8/19), P<0.01]. Postoperative fever, local pain and temporary hepatic function abnormality were the common complications that were relieved after proper interventions, and mortality did not occur in these cases.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of TACE and RFA significantly increases the complete tumor necrosis rate and decreases the recurrence rate of small HCC. CT-guided percutaneous RFA can be a safe and effective therapy for small HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the pathologic features of dilated heart in cardiac transplant recipients, with clinicoradiologic correlation.

METHODSSixty recipient hearts from cardiac transplantation performed in Fuwai Hospital were analyzed by gross examination, histologic observation and electron microscopy. Clinicoradiologic correlation was available in 40 cases.

RESULTSAmongst the 40 cases of dilated heart, 52.5% (21/40) were due to dilated cardiomyopathy, 22.5% (9/40) due to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, 15.0% (6/40) due to ischemic cardiomyopathy, and the remaining 10.0% (4/40) due to miscellaneous causes, including local noncompaction of ventricular myocardium, giant cell myocarditis, alcoholic cardiomyopathy and hypertensive cardiomyopathy. The discrepancy rate between clinical and pathologic diagnosis was 37.5% (15/40). The erroneous categories included arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (7 cases), ischemic cardiomyopathy (5 cases), and giant cell myocarditis (1 case), which were all mistaken clinically as dilated cardiomyopathy. While ischemic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, noncompaction of ventricular myocardium and giant cell myocarditis have distinctive pathologic features, the diagnosis of alcoholic and hypertensive cardiomyopathies required clinicopathologic correlation. Dilated cardiomyopathy due to viral myocarditis was not identified in the cases studied.

CONCLUSIONPathologic examination is essential in analysis of transplant recipient heart and helps to rectify clinical diagnostic discrepancy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Diagnostic Errors ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Giant Cells ; pathology ; Heart Transplantation ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Myocardium ; pathology

Atrioventricular Block ; etiology ; Cardiac Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Hematologic Diseases ; etiology ; Hemolysis ; Humans

Cardiac Catheterization ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Humans ; Prosthesis Implantation ; instrumentation ; Septal Occluder Device