Objective To investigate the value of conventional ultrasound combined with contrast‐enhanced ultrasound in qualitative diagnosis of benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes (LNs) .Methods Totally 129 enlarged LNs in 112 cases were performed the 2‐dimensional ,color Doppler ultrasound ,and grey‐scale contrast‐enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)examinations .LNs were divided into the benign group and malignant group according to pathologic results .The aspect ratio ,eccentric medulla or medulla de‐fect ,echo type ,blood supply distribution ,contrast‐enhancement pattern and distribution equilibriuym of contrast agent were com‐pared between the two groups .Results The most of aspect ratio in the benign LNs group were ≥ 2 ,the cortex and medulla were uniform with symmetric increase and without microcalcification ,the blood supple was mainly the non‐blood flow type or hilar type , in contrast‐enhanced ultrasound ,the majority were the early hilar and medullar enhancement ,showing the centrifugally full filling ;the most of aspect ratio in the malignant LNs group were <2 ,medulla was eccentric or loss ,partial of LNs showed the increased parenchymal echo accompanied with cystic lesion and microcalcification ,the blood supply was mainly the peripheral and mixed types ,and the non‐hilar and medulla started enhancement pattern .The ultrasonographic parameters mentioned above were statisti‐cally different between the two groups ,in which the non‐hilar and medulla started enhancement patterns had the highest sensitivity and accuracy for diagnosing malignant LNs ,the positive predictive values of these parameters were higher ,whereas the negative predictive values were lower .Conclusion The conventional ultrasound combined with contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography has a higher practical value in qualitative diagnosis of cervical LNs ;the comprehensive judgment of multiple indicators can increase the differentiating ability for benign from malignant LNs .

Objective To assess the reliability and validity of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) .Methods The cross-sectional survey was conducted in the outpatient department of this hospital .544 insomnia and non-insomnia voluntary participants (18-65 years old) from July to October 2011 were assessed with PSQI and the insomnia severity index (ISI) ,which were randomly delivered to them .Results The test-retest reliability of PSQI was 0 .994 .The split-half reliability coefficient of PSQI was 0 .824 . The overall Cronbach′s alpha coefficient was 0 .845 .The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the fitting indicators for the χ2/df ,root mean square error of approximation(RMSEA) ,non-normed fit index(NNFI) ,comparative fit index(CFI) and goodness-of-fit index(GFI) were 4 .83 ,0 .09 ,0 .96 ,0 .98 and 0 .97 respectively .The correlation coefficient between the PSQI and ISI was 0 .842 . The correlations coefficients between PSQI with the questionnaire type ,interview date and interview department were -0 .046 , 0 .276 and -0 .331 .Grouping by individuals with or without insomnia ,the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) for PSQI was 0 .944(95% CI:0 .925-0 .963) .Conclusion PSQI has good reliability and validity ,and could be used for the sleep quality comprehensive evaluation in the patients with insomnia .

Objective To establish the normative data of the 2D and 3D ultrasound (US)measurements of the developing fetal thymus and comparing the 2DUS and 3DUS measurements of the fetal thymus. Methods The normal fetuses' thymus of 567 cases were assessed, and maximum transverse diameter(MTD),antero posterior diameter (APD), suprainferior diameter (SID), maximum transverse area (MTA) were measured by 2DUS,and thymic volume(TV) was measured by 3DUS. Results 2DUS,3DUS assessments of the fetal thymic MTD, APD, SID, MTA and TV were possible in 541 of 567 normal singletons. The fetal thymic 2D diameters/area and 3D volume grow with the gestational age(GA) in linear correlation. The 3D-US TV measurements and GA was significantly higher than that of any individual 2DUS measurements and GA ( P ＜0.05). Conclusions This study presents the normative data of the 2DUS and 3DUS measurements of the developing fetal thymus. 3DUS fetal thymus volume is more significantly correlated to GA than the other 2DUS measurements, which indicates 3DUS measurement of the fetal thymus is more accurate than that of 2DUS.

Objective To investigate of the tissue TGF-β changes at early stage of hypertrophic scar formation and the value of scar blisters in hypertrophic scar.Methods The TGF-β1 content in the blister fluid and the blood were quantified with ELISA,patients(n=15)with hypertrophy scar after depth burn were included,three time point(each n=5)on early　stage(<3 months)of hypertrophy scar formationwere monitored.and normal skin blister fluid and the blood(n=5)was used as control.Results The serum TGF-β1 in the both hypertrophic scar patients and normal skin group was not elevated(P>0.01),the TGF-β1 in the blister of normal skin was also not elevated(P>0.01),but TGF-β1 level in the scarblisters hypertrophic scar was elevated significantly[<60 d(158.5±69.8)pg/L,60-90 d,(181.1±40.1)pg/L,>90 d,(534.4±125.9)pg/L,P<0.01] and higher than the normal skin blister and the blood(P<15.6 pg/L.P<0.01),the increased TGF-β1 1evel in the hypertrophic scar blisters were persisted for at least three months.the TGF-β1 level of scar blister on the 3th month of hypertrophic scar formation reached a peak [(534.4±125.9)pg/L,P<0.01].Conclusions The data in this study indicates that TGF-β production at the early stage of hypertrophic scar formation is increased and may play an important role in scar formation;scar blisters is a valuable approach in hypertrophic scar study.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of velocity vector imaging(VVI)in evaluating the left ventricular(LV)segmental longitudinal systolic function in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods In 25 patients with myocardial ischemia,28 patients with myocardial infarction,26 patients with coronary lumen stenosis＜50%,according to coronary arteriography and electrocardiogram,the myocardial segments of LV were divided into 4 groups:ischemic segments group,infarcted segments group,non-ischemic segments group and normal segments group.Twenty-eight healthy subjects were selected as control group.Dynamic imaging of all subjects were collected,the systolic peak strain(Smax)and strain rate(SRmax),the time to peak strain(PTs)and the time to peak strain rate(PTsr)were measured respectively.Results Smax and SRmax of the ischemic segments and infracted segments were significantly lower than those of the control group respectively,PTs and PTsr of the ischemic segments and infracted segments were significantly longer than those of the control group respectively.Smax and SRmax of infarcted segments were significantly lower than those of the ischemic segments,there were no differences of PTs and PTsr between ischemic segments and infracted segments.Smax and SRmax cutoff of -14.08%,-0.83 s-1 for detecting ischemic segments and cutoff of -6.65%,-0.38 s-1 for detecting infracted segments,respectively,gave an optimal sensitivity and specificity.Conclusions VVI is a kind of novel noninvasive-tool to quantitatively assess LV regional systolic function in CAD patients.It is competent to differentiate between the ischemic segments and infarcted segments.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the serum levels of cytokines in severely burned patients.

METHODSThirty-six burn patients were enrolled in the study and were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the rhGH dosage used, i.e. small (0.3 IU.kg(-1).d(-1), A), large (0.6 IU.kg(-1).d(-1), B) dose groups and control group (C, with normal saline). The rhGH was administered beginning from 3 postburn days (PBDs) and lasted for 20 days. The dynamic changes in the serum levels of TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-8 and LPS at different time points were observed.

RESULTSWhen compared with those in C group, the serum levels of TNFalpha, IL-6 in A, B groups were decreased, especially in B group with earlier decrease and bigger range (P < 0.01). Simultaneously, the serum LPS level was decreased accordingly with evident positive correlation with the change in those cytokines (r = 0.9723, P < 0.01). But there was no obvious difference in serum IL-8 level among A, B and C groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONrhGH might decrease the production of postburn inflammatory mediators, especially in higher dose in dose-dependent manner for some degree. The clinical application of rhGH might be a supplementary measure in preventing and ameliorating postburn SIRS and MODS in severely burned patients.

Adult ; Burns ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Cytokines ; blood ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Human Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure ; etiology ; mortality ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of glycogen on calcium concentration of rabbit donor liver during ischemia-reperfusion period.

METHODSDonor group (n=21) was divided into 3 subgroups randomly: Group A (n=7): fasting for 24 hours before harvesting; Group B (n=7): normal laboratory chew; Group C (n=7): normal laboratory chew plus glucose supplement intravenously. Based on the self-created animal model for ischemia-reperfusion, the levels of glycogen content, ATP level, viability of Ca(2+)ATPase and plasmic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) of liver tissue were measured.

RESULTSBefore cold preservation, there was a significant difference of glycogen content among the three groups at all time points except at the end of rewarming period. ATP level and Ca(2+)ATPase viability were significantly higher in group C than in other two groups. But the plasmic free Ca(2+) concentration was lower in groups with higher glycogen content.

CONCLUSIONSDonor liver with high glycogen content can provide relatively sufficient ATP, maintain better Ca(2+)ATPase viability and prevent plasmic free Ca(2+) concentration overloading. This maybe an important mechanism for glycogen to ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury to the donor livers.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Cytosol ; chemistry ; Female ; Glycogen ; metabolism ; Liver Diseases ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; physiology ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; enzymology ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDTo explore the possibility of using retrovirus vector to carry HBV vector, and to prove that replication defective HBV could be normally packaged.

METHODSTwo kinds of full length of mutant HBV gene, which express dominant negative mutants, were inserted into retrovirus vector. After recombinant retroviruses were harvested, they were used to infect Hep G2 and 2.2.15 cell line. Then the expression of HBV core antigen in the Hep G2 cell was examined by immune fluorescence, and the existence of recombinant HB virion in the culture medium was examined by PCR.

RESULTSHigh titer of recombinant retroviruses were obtained in the culture medium of transfected PA317 cell line. Core antigen was detectable in the recombinant retrovirus infected Hep G2 cell. Recombinant HB virion was detectable in the culture medium of recombinant retrovirus infected 2.2.15 cell.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggested that recombinant retrovirus could carry HBV vector and express HBV products. When structural protein is offered by wt-HBV, the recombinant retrovirus may function as HBV vector, therefore it could be used in anti?HBV gene therapy.

Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; biosynthesis ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Recombination, Genetic ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Virus Replication

Objective To improve the management of dyspepsia by evaluating the potential role of pretreatment gastric histology as predictive factors on the symptomatic response after Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).Methods 240 FD patients with H. pylori infection out of 920 consecutive patients receiving gastroendoscopy due to dyspepsia were investigated, including 190 patients enrolled as the therapy group and administered with anti-H. pylori triple therapy. In addition, 50 patients were enrolled as the control group, in which omeprazole was an alternative to the triple therapy. The course of therapy in both groups was 7 days. Pretreatment gastric histology was evaluated by the updated Sydney system. C~ 13 urea breath test was performed to evaluate the H. pylori eradication results one month (both therapy group and control group) and six months (therapy group) after therapy. For each patient, the baseline, month 1 and month 6 symptom scores were assessed by a questionnaire of dyspepsia, including 12 symptom items of dyspepsia with scoring of severity. The relationship between pretreatment gastric histology and good symptom responses after H. pylori eradication was then analyzed.Results Of 35.3% and 42.6% patients with successful H. pylori eradication in the therapy group had a good symptomatic response one month and six months after the triple therapy respectively, higher than those from the patients who failed H. pylori eradication (month 1:35.3% vs 12.2%, P

OBJECTIVE:To apply the question-asking approach to the teaching of“Rational Administration of Antiin?fectives”for medical undergraduates.METHODS:Teaching design was conducted before classroom teaching,which included designing questions and making two sets of test papers(the questions were the same for the two sets)for book-open written examination,interactive question-asking teaching approach was applied in classroom teaching process.RESULTS:The class?room was very active and students’enthusiasm of learning was greatly motivated,students’average score of this subject in?creased from50.2in the pretest to96.6at the end of classroom learning,which was of significant difference(P