Hemodiafiltration combined with resin-mediated absorption as a therapy for hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether hemodiafiltration combined with resin-mediated absorption is a better therapy for hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis. Patients (n = 67) with acute pancreatitis treated in ICU from January 2009 to December 2012 were included in this study. Seven of these 67 cases were diagnosed hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP). All the 7 HLAP patients went through fast, gastrointestinal decompression, anti-shock treatment, inhibition of pancreatic secretion, antiseptic treatments, and hemoperfusion (HP) combined with continuous veno venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). After one round of treatment by resin adsorption, there was a significant decrease in serum triglycerides (TG) (29.78 %) and total cholesterol (TC) (24.02 %) levels (p < 0.01). TG and TC levels dropped by 49.02 and 37.66 %, respectively, after 1-day treatment of HP + CVVHDF; by 62.81 and 47.37 % on day 2 post-treatment; and by 69.57 and 49.47 % on day 3 post-treatment. All the 7 patients survived. The average time spent in the ICU was 7 ± 3.8 days, and the average duration of hospitalization was 19 ± 15.1 days. Our results show that hemoperfusion combined with hemodiafiltration is an efficient treatment as this approach can reduce plasma lipid levels effectively and reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis due to hyperlipidemia.

Enhanced detection sensitivity of pegylated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots-based prostate cancer biomarkers by surface plasmon-coupled emission.

We demonstrate the fabrication and detection of quantum dots (QDs)-based prostate specific antigens (PSAs) cancer protein biochips by using enhanced surface plasmon-coupled emission measurements (SPCE). The PSAs are immobilized on a SiO(2)-protected thin gold substrate and pegylated QDs which conjugated with antibodies of PSA are used as fluorescent probes. Due to the excellent brightness of the QDs and the high directionality of emission, as well as the high light collection efficiency of SPCE, the limit of detection (LOD) is down to 10 fg/mL (equal to 0.3 fM) for the PSA chips by using QDs-based cancer protein. We expect that this QDs-based SPCE measurement system with the low LOD supplies a great potential for detecting various cancer biomarkers that are present in only low concentrations within the human body.

[Ischemic myocardial viability assessment with interleaved T1-T2* magnetic resonance imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of ischemic myocardial viability assessment using interleaved T1-T2* magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: The left anterior descending coronary arteries (LAD) were occluded for 2 hours, followed by 1-hour reperfusion in 7 pigs. The hearts were then removed and perfused with a mixture of pig blood and crystalloid solution in 1:1 ratio. T1 relaxation times of the myocardium were measured with a TurboFLASH inversion-recovery sequence. The contrast agent, Gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) was then injected as a bolus into the aortic perfusion line (0.05 mmol/kg body wt). The first pass of the contrast agent through the heart was followed using the interleaved T1-T2* imaging sequence. Once the concentration of Gd-DTPA was in an equilibrium state, T1 relaxation times were measured again. RESULTS: The percentage recovery of T2* intensity (PRT2*) at the maximum T1 intensity measured during the first pass of the contrast agent with the interleaved T1-T2* imaging was statistically different in normal myocardium (37 +/- 11)%, infarct rim (90 +/- 15)% and infarct core (100 +/- 5)%, F = 66.585, P = 0.000. Moreover, the infarcted regions shown on PR(T2)* maps matched well with the infarcted myocardium measured by TTC staining. The median of T(1) relaxation time in normal region, infarct rim and infarct core was 531 ms, 541 ms and 1298 ms, respectively (H = 6.284, P = 0.043). However, normal region could not be differentiated from infarct rim with T1 relaxation times (q = 0.082, P = 0.775). CONCLUSION: Infarcted myocardium and ischemic myocardial viability can be correctly identified and evaluated by the interleaved T1-T2* magnetic resonance imaging in this model.

[Comparative study on recruitment maneuvers in acute respiratory distress syndrome with pulmonary and extrapulmonary origin].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of lung recruitment maneuvers (RM) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with pulmonary and extrapulmonary origin (ARDSp/ARDSexp). METHODS: Thirty-seven ARDS patients with a forced expiratory volume were selected (16 with ARDSp, 21 with ARDSexp). Without using any sedative and neuromuscular blocking agents, with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) up to 30 cm H(2)O (1 cm H(2)O=0.098 kPa), the patients were asked to hold the breath for 30 seconds, and then CPAP was lowered to the level of that before the treatment within 5-10 seconds. RESULTS: Compared with the state before recruitment, changes in heart rate (HR) were not obvious in two groups during RM, mean arterial pressure was elevated evidently after 2 minutes in two groups (both P<0.05), and central venous pressure (CVP) rose after 30 seconds in two groups (both P<0.05). Peak inspiratory pressure, platform pressure and mean airway pressure increased clearly after 30 seconds (all P<0.05), and pulmonary compliance decreased obviously 30 seconds after re-inflation recruitment in two groups (both P<0.05), and increased obviously in ARDSexp group 5, 15, 30 minutes after recruitment (all P<0.05). In the group with ARDSp oxygenation index (OI) changed distinctly 10, 30 minutes and 1 hour after recruitment compared with the state before recruitment (all P<0.05). In patients with ARDSexp OI was significantly improved 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours after RM. CONCLUSION: In ARDSexp, with pulmonary interstitial edema as the main pathology, responded better to RM than ARDSp with pulmonary consolidation.

Preparation and application of efficient TiO2 /ACFs photocatalyst.

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) supported titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalyst was developed by sol-gel method. The surface morphology and microstructure of the photocatalyst were characterized with scan electron microscope(SEM), X-ray diffraction patterns and specific surface area analysis. The prepared photocatalyst is specially helpful for the removal of low molecular weight organic pollutants in wastewater. Decomposition efficiency of methylene blue solution by TiO2/ACFs catalyst reached almost 100% under 60 min reaction, while the decomposition efficiency by pure TiO2 was only 25% under 3 h reaction. The mineralization of toluene aqueous solution was measured by total organic carbon instrument, and the evolution of intermediate species was detected by gas chromatograph instrument. The results indicated that the prepared photocatalyst not only enhanced the photoactivity of TiO2, but also suppressed the emergence of intermediate species, which may be more deleterious to human. The enhancement of photocatalysis was due to increased efficiency of adsorption and desorption, which were control steps in heterogeneous photocatalysis.

[Diagnosis and short-term therapeutic effect of AIDS complicated by tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the shore-term therapeutic effects of AIDS complicated by tuberculosis. METHODS: Ninety-eight AIDS patients with tuberculosis living in a village in Henan province were observed. RESULTS: Among the 98 patients, fever, cough, night sweating, weight loss, and superficial lymph node swelling were the common symptoms. Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) combined with a 6-month anti-tuberculosis treatment protocol with streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide (2SHRZ/4HRZ) resulted in improvement of the patients' clinical symptoms and signs as well as the immune functions. CONCLUSION: AIDS complicated by tuberculosis should receive due medical attention and sputum smear examination for anti-acid bacillus combined with X-ray examination possesses good diagnostic value for tuberculosis in these patients, for whom short-term anti-tuberculosis treatment may have beneficial effects.

[Short-term effect of treatment protocol utilizing levofloxacin, pasiniazide and M. Vaccae on multi- drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of the protocol combining levofloxacin, pasiniazide, M. Vaccae (V+D+M protocol) in the treatment of multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-TB). METHOD: Ninety-seven cases of MDR-TB randomized into V+D+M treatment protocol group (n=50) and control group (n=47) were observed for the negative sputum conversion rate, focal absorption, pulmonary cavity closure and improvement of immune function, after a 6-month treatment course. RESULTS: After the completion of the treatment course, the negative sputum conversion rate in V+D+M treatment protocol group was 84%, significantly higher than that in the control group (42%); the former group showed a focal absorption rate and pulmonary cavity closure rate of 83% and 66%, which were 33% and 26% respectively in the latter. In V+D+M treatment protocol group, T lymphocyte subgroups CD(3) and CD(4) were significantly elevated while CD(8) decreased after treatment, resulting in increased CD(4) to CD(8) ratio. The incidence of adverse effects resulting from the different treatment protocols in the two groups were comparable (30% vs 38%). CONCLUSION: V+D+M treatment protocol is effective for MDR-TB, which possesses the potential for application in clinical practice.