A multivariate generalizability analysis of the short version of depression-anxiety-stress scale / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To test the reliability of the short version of the depression-anxiety-stress scale (DASS-21) in adolescents through generalizability theory.Methods:Total of 458 adolescents from three middle schools in Guizhou and Sichuan province were surveyed with the DASS-21 from November to December 2021.Based on multivariate generalization theory(MGT), the generalization coefficients, reliability indexes and variance contribution ratios were calculated.mGENOVA 2.1 was used for data analysis.Results:The generalizability coefficient and reliability index for the total scale of DASS-21 were 0.927 and 0.922, respectively.The generalizability coefficients of depression, anxiety and stress subscales were 0.808-0.840, and the dependability indexes were 0.789-0.832.The contribution ratios of depression, anxiety and stress subscales to the general score were 33.20%, 33.94% and 32.86%, respectively.The stress subscale (34.95%) contributed the most to the relative error variance, and the anxiety subscale (36.98%) contributed the most to the absolute error variance.Conclusion:The DASS-21 has excellent test reliability in adolescents, and it can be used both as the norm-referenced test and the criterion-referenced test in the actual assessment of negative emotions in adolescents.

Preliminary clinical application verification of complete digital workflow of design lips symmetry reference plane based on posed smile / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To automatically construct lips symmetry reference plane (SRP) based on posed smile, and to evaluate its advantages over conventional digital aesthetic design.@*METHODS@#Eighteen subjects' three-dimensional facial and dentition data were gathered in this study. The lips SRP of experimental groups were used with the standard weighted Procrustes analysis (WPA) algorithm and iterative closest point (ICP), respectively. A reference plane defined by experts based on regional ICP algorithm, served as the truth plane. The angle error values between the lips SRP of WPA algorithm in the experimental groups and the truth plane were evaluated in this study, and the lips SRP of ICP algorithm of the experimental groups was calculated in the same way. The lips SRP based on posed smile as a reference for aesthetic design and evaluate preliminary clinical application.@*RESULTS@#The average angle error between the lips SRP of WPA algorithm and the truth plane was 1.78°±1.24°, which was smaller than that between the lips SRP of ICP and the truth plane 7.41°±4.31°. There were significant differences in the angle errors among the groups (P < 0.05). In the aesthetic design of anterior teeth, automatically constructing the lips SRP of WPA algorithm based on posed smile and the original symmetry plane by re-ference compared with the prosthetic design, the subjects' scores on the lips SRP of WPA algorithm based on posed smile (8.48±0.57) were higher than those on the original symmetry plane (5.20±1.31).@*CONCLUSION@#Automatically constructing the lips SRP of WPA algorithm based on posed smile was more accurate than ICP algorithm, which was consistent with the truth plane. Moreover, it can provide an important reference for oral aesthetic diagnosis and aesthetic analysis of the restoration effect. In the aesthetic design of anterior teeth, automatically constructing the lips SRP of WPA algorithm based on posed smile can improve the patients' satisfaction in esthetic rehabilitation.

Expression and Clinical Significance of EZH2 in Patients with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma Accompanied by HBV Infection / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the expression and clinical significance of EZH2 in DLBCL patients accompanied by HBV infection.@*METHODS@#The clinicopathological data of 59 patients with DLBCL accompanied by HBV infection in our hospital from February 2015 to October 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into HBV negative and HBV positive groups by serological testing before surgery. The expression of EZH2 was detected by immumohistochemical staining, and the clinicopathological characteristics and survival were analyzed and compared between these two groups.@*RESULTS@#There were 30 patients (50.8%) in the HBV negative group and 29 patients (49.2%)in the HBV positive group. The differences of age, LDH level and IPI score between two groups were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The expression of EZH2 in HBV- positive group was significantly higher than that in the HBV- negative group (P＜0.05), where the expression of EZH2 correlated with the expression of the BCL-6 (r=0.282, P＜0.05), especially in the GCB-DLBCL (r=0.549, P＜0.05). PFS was not significantly different between two groups of HBV (P＞0.05), while the PFS in the R-CHOP regimen group was higher than that in the CHOP regimen group (P＜0.05). COX multivariate analysis showed that both the chemotherapy regimen without R and the increased level of LDH were the risk factors affecting the prognosis of DLBCL patients (P＜0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EZH2 highly expresses in HBV positive group, suggesting that the significance of EZH2 in DLBCL with HBV infection is worth further explore.

Advance in Physical Activity for Brain Plasticity (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

Brain plasticity is adaptability of brain to environment and experience in neural structure and function. Physical activity, such as aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, balance, and Taiji Quan, etc., can improve brain plasticity, involved various brain regions, and the mechanisms of neuronal and molecular pathways.

Analysis on the efficacy and safety of fibrinolytic therapy in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction during the COVID-19 epidemic / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fibrinolysis strategy in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during the COVID-19 epidemic, and to provide reference value for optimization of fibrinolytic process on the premise of prevention and control of COVID-19 transmission, including self-protection of medical staff. Methods: The efficacy and safety of fibrinolysis were retrospectively analyzed in 7 patients with acute STEM, who hospitalized from February 29, 2020 to April 3, 2020 in the Department of Cardiology, Wuhan Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. To optimize the fibrinolytic process on the premise of prevention and control of COVID-19 transmission, including self-protection of medical staff, a full-time medical team in charge of fibrinolysis under third-grade protection was established. The acute STEMI patients were treated immediately in a fixed and isolated area in emergency department before receiving green channel fibrinolysis. Blood samples for complete blood count, COVID-19 antibody test and nasopharyngeal swab samples for COVID-19 nucleic acid test were made before fibrinolysis, while the chest CT examination was accomplished after fibrinolysis. By comparing differences of time from the first electrocardiogram (ECG) to fibrinolysis before and after the improvement of fibrinolytic process, the effect of optimization of the fibrinolytic process was evaluated. Results: In the present study, seven patients with acute STEMI received fibrinolysis therapy, 6 of them achieved reperfusion and no bleeding was observed in all of the patients. Five out of the 7 patients were hospitalized after fibrinolysis, and the hospitalization days were 19.6 days on average. By following up to April 14, 2020, none of the 7 patients died. The first 2 patients were treated according to the routine medical procedure and the time from the first ECG to fibrinolysis were 201 and 106 minutes, respectively. After the optimization of the fibrinolytic process, the time from the first ECG to fibrinolysis of the last 5 patients were 42, 46, 51, 43 and 54 minutes, respectively，which was significantly shorter than that before optimization. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 epidemic, fibrinolysis in patients with acute STEMI is safe, effective and easy to implement. Therefore, it is recommended as the top priority for the patients with acute STEMI with indications for fibrinolysis. On the premise of prevention and control of COVID-19 transmission, including self-protection of medical staff, the duration of myocardial ischemia can be shortened by optimization of the fibrinolytic process.

Expression and Significance of PD-1, TIM-3 and VISTA on T Cell of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the expression of multiple negative costimulatory molecules on peripheral blood T cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its affection on prognosis.@*METHODS@#The peripheral blood samples from patients with newly diagnosed AML, complete remission (CR), and no-remission (NR) were collected, the expression levels PD-1、VISTA and TIM-3 in CD4 and CD8 T cells were detected by flow cytometry , and the clinical data of patients were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The expression levels of PD-1、VISTA and TIM-3 of CD4 and CD8 T cells in the newly diagnosed AML patients were significantly higher than those in control group (P＜0.05). The expression levels of PD-1、TIM-3 and VISTA of CD4 and CD8 T cells in the CR group were significantly lower than those in newly diagnosed and the NR group (P＜0.05). The TIM-3 expression level positively correlated with VISTA expression level of CD4 and CD8 T cells in newly diagnosed AML patients (r=0.85 and 0.73). The VISTA and PD-1 expression level of CD4 T cells in newly diagnosed AML, NR after first induction chemotherapy and high risk patients significantly increased (P＜0.05), the TIM-3 expression level of CD8 T cells in high risk group significantly increased (P＜0.05), and the VISTA expression level of CD8 T cells in CBFβ-MYH11 mutation-positive group significantly decreased (P＜0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The expression of PD-1、TIM-3 and VISTA in AML peripheral blood T cells may be involved in the immune escape of AML and can be the targets of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Analysis of Cytogenetic Characteristics and Clinical Prognosis in 236 Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the relationship of cytogenetic features, clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.@*METHODS@#The clinical characteristics and prognosis of 236 patients with MDS admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2013 to September 2017 were analyzed retrospectively, the follow-up observation and correlation analysis were performed.@*RESULTS@#There were 33 cases of refractory cytopenia with unilateral dysplasia (RCUD), 8 cases of refractory anemia with ring-shaped iron granulocytes (RARS), 70 cases of refractory cytopenia with multiple dysplasia (RCMD), 23 cases of refractory anemia (RA), 46 cases of refractory anemia with excessive blasts (RAEB-1), 48 cases of (RAEB-2), MDS-U 2 cases, simple del(5q) 6 cases. The detection analysis showed that the chromosome abnormality rate and complex chromosome abnormality rate in RAEB group (RAEB-1 + RAEB-2) and in non-RAEB group (RARS+RCMD+RCUD+RA) were 48.94% vs 43.94%, and 18.09% vs 12.69%, respectively, which were no statistically different. The grouping according to IPSS-R and IPSS showed that the chromosome abnormality rate gradually increased along with enhancement of risk stratifi-cation (P<0.05). The cytogenetic characteristics analysis showed that a total of 108 cases had chromosomal abnormalities, the detection rate was 45.76%, Out of 108 cases, 36 cases had complicated karyotypes, accounted for 15.25% of all patients. The types of chromosomal abnormalities mainly include numbers, structural abnormalities and mixed abnormalities. The chromosome abnormality with the highest detection rate was +8, accounted for 30.56% (33/100) of patients with chromosome abnormalities; followed by -7/7q-, del(5q), del(20q), etc. -7/7q-chromosome abnormalities accounted for 29.63% of all karyotypic abnormalities (including -7/7q-chromosome abnormalities alone and other chromosome abnormalities). The median age of the patients with MDS was 61 (13-88) years old, and the male-female ratio was 1.36∶1. Analysis of blood cell characteristics showed that the three lines were reduced or increased to varying degrees. The median WBC count was 2.8 (0.3-267.1)×10/L, the median Hb level was 69 (20-156) g/L, and the median Plt count was 55 (2-1733)×10/L. The 1 year OS rate in 32 cases of chromosome 7 abnormality and 128 cases of normal chromosome was 25% and 44.53%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant (χ=4.05, P<0.05) .@*CONCLUSION@#Chromosome karyotype is an independent factor affecting the prognosis of patients with MDS. It is important for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis evalnation of patients with MDS. The overall prognosis of patients with abnormal chromosome 7 is poor. .

Role of Ca-NFAT Signaling Pathway in Ph ALL Drug-resistance Mediated by Bone Marrow Stromal Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the role of Ca-NFAT signaling pathway in Ph-ALL drug resistance mediated by bone marrow stromal cells.@*METHODS@#The transcription level of NFAT mRNA in Sup-B15 cells and Ph ALL primary cells was detected by polymerase chain reaction. The expression of P-glycoprotein in Sup-B15 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The change of NFAT protein in Sup-B15 cells was detected by Western blot. AnnexinV/7-AAD was used to label cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis; Fluo 3-AM dye was used to label cells, and flow cytometry used to detect changes of Ca concentration in leukemia cells.@*RESULTS@#NFAT expression could be detected in both Sup-B15 and Ph ALL primary cells; P-glycoprotein could not be detected by flow cytometry; CAS could significantly inhibit NFAT protein expression in clinically applied drug concentrations (2.5, 5 μmol/L); Clinically applied concentration of CAS (2.5, 5 μmol / L) has no significant effect on the apoptosis of Sup-B15 cells, while higher concentration of CAS (10 μmol / L) could induce apoptosis of Sup-B15 cells. Bone marrow stromal cells OP9 could, decrease the sensitivity of Sup-B15 cells and Ph ALL primary cells to imatinib (IM); After co-culture with bone were marrow stromal cells, the Ca concentration in Sup-B15 cells was enhanced, the levels of NFAT protein and nullear protein in sup-B15 cells also were enhanced. The addition of CAS in co-culture system could inlibit the Ca-NFAT signaling pathway, reduce the protective effect of OP9 on Sup-B15 cells.Conclution:The Ca-NFAT sigualing pathway, contributes to the survival of Ph ALL cells. Bone marrow stromal cells can mediate the resistance of Ph ALL cells to IM by activating Ca-NFAT signaling pathway.

Applying Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis to Prevent Medication Errors during Drug Subpackage / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To prevent medication errors during drug subpackage and ensure patients' medication safety. METHODS: Healthcare failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) was applied to evaluate the potential failure modes and effects during drug repackaging and dispensing. Thereafter rectification measures was analyzed and carried out in order to prevent the recurrence of failure modes. Risk priority numbers (RPNs) before and after the implication of rectification measures were analyzed using paired t tests. RESULTS: After the application of healthcare failure mode and effect analysis, RPN was statistically significantly (P<0.05) reduced by 60% (P=0.000 2), which affecting the incidences of medication errors during drug unit-dose repackaging. CONCLUSION: The application of healthcare failure mode and effect analysis can effectively prevent medication errors during drug subpackage and improve patients' medication safety.

Effect of cricothyroid and thyroarytenoid muscle botulinum toxin injection on patients with dyspnea caused by bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To discuss the clinical effect of small dose of botulinum toxin injection in cricothyroid muscle and thyroarytenoid muscle on patients with incomplete bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis.@*Methods@#Six patients were selected with Ⅰor Ⅱ or Ⅲ degree of dyspnea diagnosed as bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury by laryngeal electromyography, and small dose of botulinum toxin injection was performed in cricothyroid muscle and thyroarytenoid muscle as a treatment. Degree of dyspnea was assessed one month before and after the treatment, and the stroboscopic laryngoscope results, acoustic parameters and CT image of the patients were collected in the 6 patients. The relevant parameters were also collected one month before and after treatment, including the degree of dyspnea, stroboscopic laryngoscope results, acoustic parameters and CT image of the patients. The angle between bilateral vocal cords in stroboscopy at full inspiratory was calculated, acoustic parameters (F0, jitter, shimmer) were analysed, and vocal length, width and the vocal region were measured. Then, the paired t test was performed for statistical analysis between before and after one month injection, the one way analysis of variance was performed among vocal parameters in CT image.@*Result@#Botulinum toxin injection was successfully completed in the 6 patients, followed without any serious complications. The degree of dyspnea was alleviated to some extent after treatment in all 6 patients; the angle between bilateral vocal cords at the end of a deep inspiration was significantly increased (t=2.44, P<0.05) after the treatment. The changes of F0 and jitter between before and after treatment were not statistically significant (t=0.72, t=1.42, P>0.05). Shimmer was significantly decreased after treatment (t=2.61, P<0.05). Vocal fold length, width and vocal region increased with F0, there was a statistically significant difference between different F0 before injection, and there was no statistically significant difference between different F0 after injection. The follow-up time was respectively seven months, 1 year, 1 year, 18 months, 22 months and 2 years respectively.@*Conclusion@#Small dose of botulinum toxin injection in bilateral cricothyroid muscles and thyroarytenoid muscles can relieve the dyspnea caused by bilateral vocal cords paresis to some extent, accompanied without serious complications, despite the sound quality was slightly worse.

Association between overweight/obesity in parents and autism spectrum disorders in offspring / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the association between overweight/obesity in parents before maternal pregnancy and the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in offspring.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 36 children who were diagnosed with ASD (ASD group) and 72 normal children matched for sex and age (control group) were enrolled. A questionnaire survey was performed to collect the general information, including body height and body weight of parents before maternal pregnancy and maternal weight gain during pregnancy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between overweight/obesity in parents before maternal pregnancy and ASD in offspring.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ASD group had a significantly higher detection rate of overweight/obesity in the father than the control group (56% vs 32%; P=0.018) before maternal pregnancy. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that overweight/obesity of the father before maternal pregnancy was a risk factor for ASD in offspring (OR=2.66 and 2.58 respectively; P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Overweight/obesity of the father before maternal pregnancy is an independent risk factor for ASD in offspring, and therefore, it is important for the father to control his body mass index within the normal range before maternal pregnancy.</p>

Direct Detection of Di-2-ethylhexy Phthalate in Environmental Water Sample Based on Extractive Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry / 分析化学

The environmental organic pollutant of di-2-ethylhexy phthalate ( DEHP ) was analyzed by extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry ( EESI-MS ). Effect of some important experimental conditions were investigated systematically, including the electrospray voltage, temperature of ion-transport tube, sample injection rate and extractant composition. Under the optimal conditions, a method for rapid detection of DEHP in water sample was established. DEHP levels in different samples with complex matrixes were measured, including landfill leachate, urban sewage and lake water. The results showed that DEHP in water samples could be ionized by EESI source and obtained the molecule ion (m/ z 391. 28) at the positive detection mode, and then CID experiment were performed to obtain the secondary fragment ions m/ z 279. 26, 167. 12 and 149. 11. The intensity of characteristic peak m/ z 149. 11 possessed a good linearity with the concentration of DEHP in the range of 5-1000 μg / L with the correlation coefficient of R2 = 0. 9991, and the detection limit (LOD) of 0. 21 μg / L. The recoveries of DEHP at three spiked levels (8, 80, 400 μg / L) were 96. 2％ - 111. 2％ , with RSDs of 5. 6％ - 11. 8％ . With the developed EESI-MS method, the concentrations of DEHP in landfill leachate, urban sewage and Yan lake water were 556. 5, 275. 3 and 37. 8 μg / L, respectively. The EESI-MS method possessed many advantages such as no requirement of sample pretreatment, fast analysis speed ( about 3 min per sample), simple operation and high sensitivity, thus providing a new mass spectrometric method for rapid detection of phthalate esters.

Advances in quality of life of patients with phenylketonuria / 国际儿科学杂志

Phenylketonuria,an autosomal recessive inherited disease characterized by amino acid metabolism abnormality,has been listed as a screening program for neonatal genetic metabolic diseases in China.Eearly screening and treatment can reduce or even avoid the disease,However,delayed intervention can influence social functioning and psychological development.The research of life quality including psychological and social functioning in phenylketonuria patients has atlracted the increasing attention along with the medical model transformation.In order to study quality of life in patients with phenylketonuria,life quality questionnaires have been developed.It reveals that early and long-term treatments can improve the quality of life.The assessment and present condition as well as the impact factors of quality of life in phenylketonuria patients have been reviewed in this article,which have important value to evaluate the quality of life and guide clinical treatments as well as judge the prognosis of patients with phenylketonuria.

Establishment of a rat osteoporotic model by ovariectomy combined with glucocorticoid exposure / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:There are many postmenopausal women taking hormone, which leads to much loss of bone mass, further inducing fragility fractures. The studies on the hormone exposure combined with ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic model are still immature, and the related molecular mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To establish the rat osteoporotic model induced by ovariectomy combined with glucocorticoid exposure and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: Thirty 3-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank control, sham and model groups (n=10 per group). The rats in the blank control group received no intervention; rats in the sham group were clipped off a little of coeliac adipose tissue; the model rats received bilateral ovariectomy and 4-week administration of glucocorticoid. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 4 weeks after modeling, compared with blank control and sham groups, the model group showed significantly lower bone mineral density of the femur, number of bone trabeculae and bone volume/total volume, and significantly wider bone trabecular spacing. Additionally, the model group revealed the damaged bone trabecular structure and thiner cortical bone. The expression level of Runx2 was downregulated whereas both collagen type 1α1 and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor γ mRNA were upregulated in the model group. These findings suggest that ovariectomized rats exposed to glucocorticoid rapidly develop femur osteoporosis, maybe by downregulating the expression of Runx2, as well as upregualting collagen type 1α1 and peroxisome proliferators activatedreceptor γ mRNA.

Hypertension Management System Based on Mobile Intelligent Computation / 医学信息学杂志

In this paper,a hypertension management system based on mobile intelligent computation is built,intorduces its overall architecture and function realization.The user side can implement collection and monitoring of body signs,behavior monitoring,hypertension riskassessment and emergence help,etc.In addition,the doctor side can assist the doctor in diagnosis service.With the help of this system,the user can know his/her physical status and make self-adjustment in time,and the doctor can quickly track the progressof the patient and provide health guidance.As a result,the personalized hypertension management for both the doctor and the patient can be achieved.

Relationship between vitamin D level and lung diseases in premature infants / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To analyze the relationship between serum 25(OH)D level and lung diseases in premature infants. Methods The clinical data and the results of serum 25 (OH) D were collected in the preterm infants admitted to NICU from January 2015 to December 2016. According to the average level of serum 25 (OH) D, the premature infants were divided into low vitamin D group and high vitamin D group, and the differences of lung diseases between two groups were compared. Results A total of 115 premature infants were enrolled. The mean gestational age was (29.9±1.9) weeks, and the mean serum 25(OH)D level was (37.1±16.6) nmol/L. The rates of vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D<50 nmol/L], vitamin D insufficient [25(OH)D 50-75 nmol/L] , and normal [25(OH)D≥75 nmol/L] were 71.3%, 17.4%, and 11.3%, respectively. The persistent positive airway pressure, oxygen therapy time, the incidences of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and hospitalization days in the low vitamin D group were significantly higher than those in the high vitamin D group (P all<0.05). Conclusions Preterm infants with low vitamin D levels may increase the incidences of RDS and BPD, and prolong the length of hospitalization.

Salmeterol/fluticasone treatment reduces circulating C-reactive protein level in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may play an important role in the progression and morbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It remains controversial whether inhaled corticosteroid in combination with a long-acting beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist can attenuate systemic inflammation. We evaluated the effect of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate on circulating C-reactive protein level in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An open-label clinical trial was conducted to recruit 122 outpatients with stable moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from department of respiratory medicine in two teaching hospitals between June 2007 and March 2008. Patients were randomized into two groups (1:1) to receive either the combination of 50 microg salmeterol and 500 microg fluticasone twice daily (n = 61), or the combination of 206 microg albuterol and 36 microg ipratropium q.i.d (n = 61) over 6 months. Circulating C-reactive protein concentrations were measured before randomization and during the follow-up. The efficacy of treatment was also assessed by spirometry, as well as health status and dyspnea score at baseline and after 6-month treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Baseline characteristics of two groups were similar. Compared with ipratropium/albuterol, the combination of salmeterol/fluticasone significantly reduced circulating level of C-reactive protein (-1.73 vs. 0.08 mg/L, respectively, P < 0.05) after 6-month treatment. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) and health status also improved significantly in salmeterol/fluticasone group compared with ipratropium/albuterol. Salmeterol/fluticasone treatment subjects who had a decrease of circulating C-reactive protein level had a significant improvement in FEV(1) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total scores compared with those who did not (185 vs. 83 ml and -5.71 vs. -1.79 units, respectively, both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Salmeterol/fluticasone treatment reduced circulating C-reactive protein concentration in clinically stable moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients after 6-month treatment.</p>

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome among a Chinese population

To investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS], and to determine any association between H. pylori infection and severity of OSAS. Two hundred and forty-three subjects were recruited in this cross-sectional study at the Department of Respiratory Medicine in the West China Hospital, Sichuan, P. R. China, from October 2006 to April 2008. Polysomnography [PSG] was used to determine the apnea-hypopnea index [AHI], and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test H. pylori IgG. According to the AHI, subjects were divided into 4 groups: the control group [AHI <5/hours], patients with mild OSAS group [AHI: 5-14/hours], moderate OSAS group [AHI: 15-29/hours], and severe OSAS group [AHI: >/= 30/hours]. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with OSAS was 75.5%, and in the controls it was 53.4% [p=0.000]. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with mild OSAS was 57.1%, with moderate OSAS was 76.5%, and with severe OSAS was 90.9%. There were significant differences between patients with moderate and severe OSAS and the controls, as well as among the mild, moderate, and severe OSAS groups. Helicobacter pylori infection may be associated with OSAS. In addition, increased severity of OSAS might be associated with higher seroprevalence of H. pylori

One-staged orthognathic surgery and arthroscope-assisted condylar reconstruction with costochondral graft / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate one-staged orthognathic surgery and arthroscope-assisted condylar reconstruction with costochondral graft for temporomandibular diseases combined with dental-maxillofacial deformities.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The preoperative measurement and model surgery was performed. The patients underwent arthroscope assisted condylar reconstruction with costochondral graft combined with bimaxillary surgery or mandibular surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From Sept. 2003 to Dec. 2005, 15 cases were treated successfully with no bleeding, nerve injury and infection. The patients were followed up for 29 to 52 months (mean, 31.8 months). The appearance was markedly improved. TMJ function was good with no pain. The average maximum interincisal opening was 33.6 mm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with traditional operation, one-staged orthognathic surgery and arthroscope-assisted condylar reconstruction with costochondral graft has its advantages. Indication selection and preoperative design are very important.</p>

The clinical application of arthroscope-assisted reconstruction of the mandibular condyle with costochondral graft / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This is a preliminary study of the endoscopic technique on open surgery. The purpose of this study is to introduce the use of endoscopic technique for the reconstruction of the condyle with costochondral graft through a preauricular incision.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>33 patients of temporomandibular joint diseases (n=49) underwent reconstruction of mandibular condyle with costochondral graft. After preparation of the recipient site through a preauricular incision, maxillo-mandibular fixation, and preparation of the costochondral graft, the graft was fixed to the lateral side of the mandible ramus under the supervision of arthroscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients had successful reconstruction of the condyle with costochondral graft without any severe bleeding or craniocerebral injury.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This case series demonstrates the feasibility of endoscopic technique for the reconstruction of the condyle through a preauricular incision. It has the advantage of high efficiency, minimal postoperative morbidity, great patient comfort, and little appearance impairment. The endoscopic technique has a promising future.</p>