ObjectiveTo set reference intervals of the levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies during three trimesters of pregnancy in Quanzhou city, Fujian province. MethodsA total of 490 pregnant women during 4-39 week pregnancy without presence of thyroid antibodies were enrolled in Quanzhou city, Fujian province. Levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) were detected through the electrochemistry immunoassay (ECL) method. In addition, a total of 51 healthy women without pregnancy were enrolled to set the reference intervals of levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies. ResultsThe median levels of TPO-Ab were in the reference intervals provided by the pharmaceutical factory. Levels of FT3 and FT4 gradually decreased from the first to the third trimester (P < 0.01), levels of serum TSH gradually increasd from the first to the third trimester (P < 0.01). Compared with those of pregnant women, levels of thyroid hormone in normal non-pregnant women were higher in the first trimester, lower in the second and the third trimesters (P < 0.01). During three trimesters, the reference intervals of FT3 in the three trimesters were (first: 3.75 to 7.23; second 3.31 to 4.9; and third: 3.16 to 4.48 pmol/L); the reference intervals of FT4 were (first: 12.85 to 25.3; second: 12.03 to 20.14; and third: 11.02 to 19.43 pmol/L); and the reference intervals of TSH were (first: 0.01 to 3.79; second: 1.09 to 4.19; and third: 1.08 to 5.95 mIU/L), respectively. ConclusionThrough this detection, we set the levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies during three trimesters of pregnancy in Quanzhou city.
ObjectiveTo explore the levels of serum glucose and insulin secretion function in people with different educational background of normal glucose tolerance and to investigate its relationship with educational levels. MethodsWe had telephone connections with normal fast glucose people who did health examination from January 2007 to January 2011, then the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed and the level of insulin were measured. A total of 340 people with normal glucose tolerance who completed our examination and answered a questionnaire on lifestyle were included in our study. They were divided into three groups according to their educational levels. The levels of plasma glucose and insulin were measured in 92 high educational level participants, 68 middle educational level participants and 70 low educational level participants. We calculated homevstasis model assessment (HOMA)-S, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-β and compared differences between the three groups. ResultsWith the decline of educational levels, fasting plasma glucose, body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin, postprandial insulin, HOMA-β, and HOMA-IR gradually increased, while HOMA-S gradually decreased. The level of BMI, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR in high educational level group were significantly lower than those in low educational level group. The level of BMI, HOMA-IR in middle educational level group were significantly lower than those in low educational level group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that level of fasting plasma glucose was related to age, BMI, and educational levels. ConclusionWith the decline of educational levels, BMI and HOMA-IR increase, and HOMA-S decreases, which indicates that they already have differences in glucose metabolism and insulin secretion function in people with normal glucose tolerance, presaging that in the future the proportion of development of diabetes in the low educational level may increase.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of gender and age on the posterior cranial fossa linear volume and cerebellar tonsil position in normal populations.MethodsA total of 180 normal adults who underwent cervical MRI examination at the physical examination center were selected, including 90 males and 90 females; the age ranged from 20 to 79 years, with an average of 50.4 years. The posterior cranial fossa linear volume and cerebellar tonsil position were measured by two spine surgeons on the mid-sagittal plane of the cervical MRI T2-weighted image. The posterior cranial fossa linear volume included the length of clivus (AB), anteroposterior diameter of foramen magnum (BC), length of supraocciput (CD), anteroposterior diameter of posterior fossa (DA), posterior fossa height (BE), and clivus angle (∠α). The index of the cerebellar tonsil position was the distance from the lower edge of the cerebellar tonsil to the baseline (MN). The differences of each indicators between males and females were compared, and the correlations between age and each indicators were analyzed.ResultsThe posterior fossa cranial linear volume AB, BC, CD, BE, and ∠α in males were significantly larger than those in females (P<0.05); DA in males was larger than that in females, but showing no significant difference (t=1.978, P=0.050). The cerebellar tonsil position (MN) in females was higher than that in males, but showing no significant difference (t=0.526, P=0.600). Correlation analysis showed that age was negatively correlated with AB, BC, CD, DA, BE, ∠α, and MN (r=−0.375, P=0.001; r=−0.417, P=0.001; r=−0.046, P=0.001; r=−0.244, P=0.001; r=−0.326, P=0.001; r=−0.320, P=0.001; r=−0.334, P=0.001).ConclusionThe posterior cranial fossa linear volume of normal adults is significantly larger in males than in females; the posterior cranial fossa linear volume and the cerebellar tonsil position may have a decreasing process of age-related degeneration.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of problem-intervention-outcome (P-I-O) teaching method on the normalization training of new nurses. MethodsA total of 101 new nurses from 2011 to 2013 were included in this research. Forty-two new nurses who were invited from August 2011 to July 2012 were distributed into group A, and 59 new nurses who were invited from August 2012 to July 2013 were distributed into group B. Both groups accepted normalization training. Group B accepted P-I-O teaching at the same time. We assessed the differences in operating, theory, attendance, the rates of harmful events and the degree of satisfaction between the two groups. ResultsTheory and operating between the two groups had significant differences (t=3.44, 2.86; P<0.05). Attendance, rates of harmful events and the degree of satisfaction all had significant differences between the two groups (t=2.94, χ2=8.45, Z=-2.05; P<0.05). ConclusionThe application of P-I-O teaching method in the normalization training of new nurses can stimulate their study interest and enthusiasm, transit their role faster, as well as reduce the rates of clinical harmful events and elevate the quality of care. Thus, it is worthy of being popularized in clinical nursing care.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo measure the expressions of Fas/FasL mRNA in normal liver, adjacent non-cancerous liver parenchyma and hepatocarcinoma, and to explore the relationship between the expressions of Fas/FasL mRNA in those tissues and the hepatocellular carcinogenesis. MethodsSemi-quantity reverse transcript-ploymerase chain reaction(QRTPCR) were performed to measure the relative quantity of the Fas and FasL mRNA expressions in normal liver (n=25), adjacent noncancerous liver parenchyma(n=40) and hepatocarcinoma(n=40). ResultsThe relative quantity of Fas and FasL mRNA expressed in normal liver, adjacent non-cancerous liver parenchyma and hepatocarcinoma were 0.792±0.039 vs 0.245±0.043，0.857±0.031 vs 0.429±0.035 and 0.473±0.047 vs 0.185±0.041, respectively. The relative quantity of Fas mRNA expression in hepatocarcinoma was lower than that of normal liver tissue and adjacent non-cancerous liver parenchyrna (P＜0.05). The relative quantity of FasL mRNA expression in hepatocarcinoma was also lower than that of normal liver tissue (P＜0.05) and adjacent non-cancerous liver parenchyma (P＜0.01), but its expression in adjacent non-cancerous liver parenchyma was higher than that of normal liver tissue (P＜0.05).ConclusionHepatorcarcinoma may escape the immune surveillance of the host, not only by means of reducing Fas expression, but also through adjacent non-cancerous liver parenchyma’s increasing expression of FasL to induce apoptosis of contact lymphocyte which highly expresses Fas.
Objective To analyze the symmetry of multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) between both eyes in normal subjects. Methods The monocular mfVEP of both eyes in thirty-six normal subjects (72 eyes) was tested with VERIS Science 4.0. The stimulus was the pattern reversal dart array consisted of 60 sectors each included 16 black-white reverse patterns. The visual stimulation was controlled by the binary pseudo-random m-sequences and subtended approximately 25 degrees. Results There existed no statistically significant difference of P1 latencies and amplitudes between correspondent quadrant visual field of both eyes. The data difference of the ipsilateral quadrant visual fields was greater than those of the correspondent quadrant visual field. The comparison among four quadrant visual fields in right eye or left eye each showed that there was statistically significant difference of P1 latencies between the superionasal quadrant visual field and inferiotemporal or inferionasal quadrant visual fields. Conclusions The symmetry of normal mfVEP is more dominant in retina than that in visual cortex. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 42-44)
The American Thoracic Society Committee Task Force on Standards for Pulmonary Function had recommended a standardized reporting format for pulmonary function tests due to considerable variability in pulmonary function reports presented to end users, which might lead to potential confusion and miscommunication. This recommendation includes seven parts: overview, introduction, methods, report format, selecting and reporting reference values, grading the quality of pulmonary function tests and conclusions. This document presents a reporting format in test-specific units for spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusing capacity that can be assembled into a report appropriate for a laboratory’s practice. Recommended reference sources are updated, with especially emphasizing to adapt lower limit of normal (LLN) or z score instead of percent of prediction to estimate the abnormal results. This document provides detail and clear explanation on the recommendations, which might improve the interpretation, communication, and understanding of test results. However, parts of recommendation might not be used directly in our clinical practice owing to some specific conditions in China. We suggest to use appropriate normal predictions from Chinese population, to include small airway parameters such as mid-maximal expiratory flow for early detection of pulmonary function deterioration, and to include inspiratory flow volume curve, as well as strengthen the quality control data and figures in the report format.
Objective To provide a ventricular assist device for patients with heart failure, Fu Wai （FW） axial blood pump was developed for partly or totally to assist the left ventricular function. Vitro hemolysis and animals tests were also employed to test the hydromechanics and hemocompatibility of the FW left ventricular assist devices developed in Fu Wai hospital. Methods Using vitro test loop, FW axial blood pump has been used to evaluate the performance of hemolysis， the pump has also been tested for hemolysis characteristic through five sheep experiments. Results At 8 400 r/min, the pump generates 5 L/min flow against 100 mm Hg, the normalized index of hemolysis (NIH) was0.17±0.06 mg/L. The plasma free hemoglobin of in vivo tests was around 30 mg/dl. Conclusion The results obtained in vitro and in vivo testing indicate an acceptable design for the blood pump, further in vivo tests will be performed before clinical use.
ObjectiveTo observe the thickness distribution of retina outer nuclear layer (ONL) by directional optical coherence tomography (D-OCT), and analyze variation of ONL thickness with age, gender and anatomical location.MethodsCross sectional observational study. From August 2017 to January 2019, the patients were included who had no abnormal eyes in Beijing Tongren Hospital, and healthy volunteers were included in the study. Cirrus HD-OCT 5-line single line scanning mode was used to scan the macular area horizontally and vertically. The pupil diameter of all the tested eyes was more than 6 mm. The protocol was approved by The Medical College of Wisconsin Institutional Review Board. The detection light was incident on the temporal, nasal, upper and lower sides about 1.5 to 2.0 mm away from the pupil center to obtain an image that was oblique and clearly showed the Henle fiber layer (HFL). The upper and lower bounds of HFL and external limiting membrane (ELM) were manually labeled. The thickness of ONL and HFL+ONL were measured and recorded at 150 μm intervals on the horizontal and vertical radial lines with the fovea as the midpoint. The thickness of ONL in different anatomic location, ages and genders were compared. The influence of age and gender on ONL were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and independent sample t test respectively.Results67 eyes of 67 subjects were enrolled. Among them, the mean age of 27 males (27 eyes) and 40 females (40 eyes) was 38.48±15.33 and 40.98±17.78 years respectively without significantly statistical difference (t=－0.582, P=0.562). The total mean age was 39.97±16.98 years old. There were 11, 22, 22 and 12 patients aged less than 20, 20-39, 40-59 and over 60 years old respectively, according which they were divided into A, B, C and D groups. According to the anatomical location, the thickness of the ONL reached a maximum in the foveola, and then decreased as the eccentricity increased. Horizontally, ONL/ONL+HFL reached the minimum as 36.1% at 0.90 mm on the nasal side, while the minimum was 38.3% at 0.75 mm on the temporal side. Vertically, ONL/ONL+HFL reached the minimum as 36.2% at 0.75 mm inferiorly and 35.6% at 0.9 mm superiorly. There was no significant difference in the ONL thickness of fovea between group A, B,C and D (P＞0.05), however, a significant difference was among the four groups in the parafoveal and the perifovea (P＜0.05). The ONL thickness of the male was larger than that of the female, and the differences between them in parafoveal and perifovea showed statistically significant (P＜0.05).ConclusionsNormal people had the thickest ONL in the fovea. While the location is farther from the fovea, the ONL is thinner. The thickness of ONL in parafovea and perifovea is gradually thin with incerase of age. The thickness of ONL in the male is thicker than that in the female.
Objective To evaluate the flushing effects of normal saline (NS) and heparin saline (HPS) after central venous catheterization. Methods We searched PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 12, 2015), CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the flushing effects of NS versus HPS after central venous catheterization from inception to December 2015. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 12 RCTs involving 2 092 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that no significant differences were found between the two groups in occlusion rate (OR=1.58, 95%CI 0.79 to 3.14,P=0.19) and the catheter days (OR=–7.24, 95%CI –22.90 to 8.41,P=0.36), while the HPS group had more advantage than the NS group in decreasing the incidence of phlebitis (OR=2.57, 95%CI 1.52 to 4.34,P=0.000 4). Subgroup analysis revealed that HPS provided more superiority over NS in lessening the occlusion rate (OR=1.85, 95%CI 1.22 to 2.80,P=0.004), no significant difference was found when comparing NS to 10 units, and 100 units HPS (10 units: OR=1.51, 95%CI 0.94 to 2.43,P=0.09; 100 units: OR=1.51, 95%CI 0.63 to 3.60,P=0.09). Conclusion HPS appears to be more beneficial than NS, larger rigorously studies are needed for better understanding on the effects of NS and HPS.