COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Pandemics ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the brain glucose metabolism and left ventricular function parameters, and to explore the cerebral glucose metabolism reduction regions in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: A total of 110 consecutive IHD patients who underwent gated (99)Tc(m)-sestamibi (MIBI) SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging, gated (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT myocardial and brain glucose metabolic imaging within three days in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from April 2016 to October 2017, were enrolled in this study. Left ventricular functional parameters of SPECT/CT and PET/CT including end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were analyzed by QGS software. Viable myocardium and myocardial infarction region were determined by 17-segment and 5 score system, and the ratio of viable myocardium and scar myocardium was calculated. According to the range of viable myocardium, the patients were divided into viable myocardium<10% group (n=44), viable myocardium 10%-<20% group (n=36) and viable myocardium≥20% group (n=30). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the range of viable myocardium and scar myocardium and the level of cerebral glucose metabolism. Brain glucose metabolism determined by the mean of standardized uptake value (SUV(mean)) was analyzed by SPM. The ratio of SUV(mean) in whole brain and SUV(mean) in cerebellum were calculated, namely taget/background ratio (TBR). Differences in cerebral glucose metabolism among various groups were analyzed by SPM. Results: There were 101 males, and age was (57±10) years in this cohort. The extent of viable myocardium and the extent of scar, LVEF evaluated by SPECT/CT and PET/CT were significantly correlated with TBR (r=0.280, r=-0.329, r=0.188, r=0.215 respectively,all P<0.05). TBR value was significantly lower in viable myocardium<10% group, compared with viable myocardium 10%-<20% group (1.25±0.97 vs. 1.32±0.17, P<0.05) and viable myocardium≥20% group (1.25±0.97 vs. 1.34±0.16, P<0.05). Furthermore, in comparison with viable myocardium≥20% group, the hypo-metabolic regions of viable myocardium<10% group were located in the precuneus, frontal lobe, postcentral gyrus, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and so on. Conclusions: There is a correlation between impaired left ventricular function and brain glucose metabolism in IHD patients. In IHD patients with low myocardial viability, the level of glucose metabolism in the whole brain is decreased, especially in the brain functional areas related to cognitive function.
Aged ; Brain ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Stroke Volume ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as an important treatment for gastric cancer patients, especially for those in advanced stage. To evaluate the effects of TCM treatment on gastric cancer patients, the authors performed a retrospective study to report the result of the integrated treatment of TCM with chemotherapy for stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer.

METHODSIn this study, 182 patients with stage IV and non-surgical gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the effects of TCM integrated with chemotherapy. Among the 182 cases, 88 cases received integrated therapy consisting of TCM and chemotherapy, while 94 cases received chemotherapy alone. The overall survival and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score were measured as the main outcome.

RESULTSThe median overall survival of the integrated therapy group and chemotherapy group were 16.9 and 10.5 months, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of integrated therapy group vs. chemotherapy group were 70% vs. 32%, 18% vs. 4%, and 11% vs. 0%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (χ= 42.244, P > 0.001). After six-month treatment, KPS scores of the integrated therapy group and the chemotherapy group were 75.00 ± 14.78 and 60.64 ± 21.39, respectively (P > 0.001). The Cox regression analysis showed that TCM treatment is a protective factor for patients' overall survival.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that TCM integrated with chemotherapy may prolong overall survival and improve survival rate and life quality of patients with stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of signal intensity index (SII) of skull-base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), select a best cut-off SII value to predict the outcome of NPC. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-two NPC patients (92 men, 30 women) with skull-base invasion were included. All patients underwent MRI, signal intensities on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) were measured for each invaded site and its contralateral normal counterpart. The SIIs were calculated, receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. The optimal cut-off values were extracted. The overall survival (OS) rates of 5-year follow-up were performed. Results: Sensitivities for differentiating skull-base invasion from normal contralateral anatomy were 98.9%, 88.5% and 70.0%, and specificities were 98.9%, 96.0% and 74.4%, respectively. There were three cut-off values for differentiating invasion from normal anatomy of skull-base, 49%, 98%, and 60%. Significant difference in OS rates (84.2% vs. 57.1%, p=0.007) was seen for SII threshold values > 60% and those ≤ 60%. Conclusions: The SII might be a useful means of differentiating invasion from normal tissue at the skull-base in NPC. The cut-off value of quantitative SII at the skull-base may aid in monitoring the response to treatment of NPC patients.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) reference standards plays an important role in the quality control of Chinese herbal pieces. This paper overviewed the development of TCM reference standards. By analyzing the 2010 edition of Chinese pharmacopoeia, the application of TCM reference standards in the quality control of Chinese herbal pieces was summarized, and the problems exiting in the system were put forward. In the process of improving the quality control level of Chinese herbal pieces, various kinds of advanced methods and technology should be used to research the characteristic reference standards of Chinese herbal pieces, more and more reasonable reference standards should be introduced in the quality control system of Chinese herbal pieces. This article discussed the solutions in the aspect of TCM reference standards, and future development of quality control on Chinese herbal pieces is prospected.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

Objective To study the integrated monitoring program regarding mouse and plague, hemorrhagic fever of renal syndrome(HFRS)and leptospirosis. Methods Integrated monitoring plan was used. A designated office coordinated 5 departments' actions within the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). Cage-trapping method was conducted to monitor the density of mice from June to October, respectively. Results Lishui municipal CDC had finished the integrated monitoring program on mouse and mouse-borne disease while the Longyou CDC had finished the field investigation, using the integrated monitoring program.Specimens were sent to provincial CDC. The integrated monitoring program needed more number of personnel and better coordination. Lishui reported 3 leptospirosis cases and 58 HFRS cases in 2009,with the incidence rates as 0.13 and 2.44 per 100 000, respectively. Longyou reported 2 leptospirosis case and 1 HFRS cases in 2009, with the incidence rates as 0.49 and 0.25 per 100 000, respectively.Lishui and Longyou had no plague case. Lishui caught 91 mice in 2009 and the density was 4.17%.Longyou caught 37 mice in 2009, with the density as 1.18 percent. Most mice caught from Lishui were Apodemus agrarius and the next was Mus musculus. In Longyou the Rattus tanezumi ranked the first, followed by Apodemus agrarius. The positive rate of HFRS antigen in Lishui and Longyou were 10.42% and 4.59% respectively. The positive rate of HFRS antibody in Longyou was 3.70%. The culture positive rate of leptospirosis in mouse renal of Lishui and Longyou were 0 and 0.98%respectively. The culture positive rate of leptospirosis in pig renal, duck renal, frog renal and cattle urine of Longyou was 0. The culture positive rate of leptospirosis in duck blood of Longyou was 80%.Conclusion The integrated monitoring program on mouse and mouse-borne disease seemed to be feasible and could promote the integrated surveillance and control program on mouse and mouse-borne diseases in China.

Objective To create a simple differential diagnostic rule for tuberculous meningitis and cryptococcal meningitis in adults on the basis of basic clinical and laboratory features. Methods We compared the clinical and laboratory features of 219 adults admitted to our hospital during the period of 2000-2008; these patients satisfied the diagnostic criteria for tuberculous meningitis (n=100) and cryptococcal meningitis (n=119). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to find the risk factors those could independently predict the tuberculous meningitis,so that the diagnostic rule could be created. Results Six risk factors those could independently predict the tuberculous meningitis were found, including gender, mind disorder, vision and/or hearing damage, amount of cerebrospinal fluid protein, total cerebrospinal fluid white-cell count and combination with periphery tuberculosis. A diagnostic rule developed from these features enjoyed a 78.0% sensitivity, a 95.2% specificity, a 92.9% positive predictive value and a 84.4% negative predictive value. Conclusion Simple clinical and laboratory features can help in the differential diagnosis between adult tuberculous meningitis and cryptococcal meningitis, which can be applied in primary hospital with limited microbiological resources.

BACKGROUNDSoutheast China is one of the sites of influenza origin. During 2003--2004, nine avian influenza outbreaks took place in Guangdong Province. But no human case was reported. To examine the status of potential human infection by human influenza (H1N1, H3N2) and avian influenza (H5N1, H7N7, H9N2) in the avian influenza epidemic area of Guangdong Province, China, we conducted a seroepidemiologic survey in the people of this area from April to June of 2004.

METHODSThree out of 9 H5N1 avian influenza affected poultry areas in Guangdong were randomly selected, and the population living within 3 kilometers of the affected poultries were chosen as the survey subjects. One thousand two hundred and fourteen people were selected from 3 villages at random. Human and avian influenza antibody titers were determined by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test and microneutralization test (MNT).

RESULTSThe positive rate of antibody to H5N1 was 3.03% in the occupational exposure group and 2.34% in general citizens group; that of H9N2 was 9.52% in the occupational exposure group and 3.76% in the general citizens group. Moreover one case in the occupational exposure group was positive for H7N7. One year later, all previously positive cases had become negative except for one H5N1-positive case.

CONCLUSIONThe observations imply that H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza silent infections exist in Guangdong populations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Chickens ; China ; epidemiology ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Neutralization Tests ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVETo study apoptosis induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and the alteration in activity of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) in adrenocortical cells.

METHODSFasciculata-glomerulosa (FG) cells of male guinea pigs were dispersed and primarily cultured in vitro. Features of apoptotic cells were observed using combined labeling with annexin-V and propidium iodide (PI) and flow cytometry. The activity of PKB/Akt was determined with immunoprecipitation and the chemiluminescence assay.

RESULTSApoptosis rate of FG cells increased with dose of CdCl2 two hours after treatment with 6.25-100.00 micromol/L of it, with significant difference in the groups treated with 25.00, 50.00, 100.00, micromol/L of CdCl2, as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Regression analysis showed that occurrence of apoptosis correlated with the dose of CdCl2 in a dose-response pattern. In the meanwhile, there were obviously elevated percentages of apoptotic cells as the increase in duration of incubation ranging from 5.58% to 73.08% for incubating cells with 50.00 micromol/L of CdCl2, from 15 minutes to 4 hours. Duration of incubating cells with CdCl2 were correlated with occurrence of apoptosis in a time-effect manner. The gray scales of PKB/Akt were manifested to be decreased as the ascending of CdCl2 dosage from 6.25 to 200.00 micromol/L, with the linear correlation.

CONCLUSION6.25 to 100.00 micromol/L CdCl2 might elicit apoptosis of adrenocortical cells. Meanwhile, PKB/Akt is decreased.

Adrenal Cortex ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cadmium Chloride ; toxicity ; Cells, Cultured ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the process of smoking prevention and control among Chinese adolescent with a model on health promotion in junior high school.

METHODSA cluster-randomized, controlled and schooled-based trial on smoking prevention was conducted among 2343 students at four secondary schools in Huangpu District of Guangzhou. Students 'reports and investigators' daily records were used to evaluate the intervention measures.

RESULTSDuring the one-year period of intervention (Dec. 2004 through Dec. 2005), eighteen activities had been implemented among students, teachers, parents and cigarette retailers. Ranked by the rate of awareness, the top six activities were shown as follows: "the nicotine toxicity experiment" (90.7%), "agreement of building families free of smoking"(77.7%), "a letter to parents" (77.1%), "no-smoking signs" (76.5%), "Blackboard information about health and smoking" (75.0%), and "signature on the 18th World Day of No Smoking" (70.2%). Among all the activities, "the nicotine toxicity experiment" had the highest rate of participation (88.5%), followed by "a letter to parents" (73.6%), "agreement of building families free of smoking" (69.8%), "health education through experiments"(68.6%), "health education through multimedia" (65.7%) and "signature on the 18th World Day of No Smoking" (65.6%). The top seven activities in which students showed greatest interests were "the nicotine toxicity experiment" (64.5%), "signature on the 18th World Day of No Smoking" (33.0%), "health education through experiments" (31.2%), "health education through multimedia" (29.8%), "class meetings with a thesis of smoking" (26.8%), "health pamphlets" (26.6%), "specific textbooks" (25.9%). The extent of students' general satisfaction to the work of tobacco control in school during the last year was 52.4%. The biggest perceived shortcoming for the intervention plan was the low participation of students.

CONCLUSIONSome intervention measures had not been fully carried out among the students and only covered part of them. It is necessary to adjust the previous intervention measures through keeping the nicotine toxicity experiment, health education through multimedia and other measures with extensive participation of students and at the same time, to avoid literal materials, exhibition boards and traditional single-way health education program.

China ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Smoking Prevention ; Students