Chinese Med J Peking
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Chinese Med J Peking · Jan 2007
Value of transthoracic echocardiography combined with cardiac troponin I in risk stratification in acute pulmonary thromboembolism.
Acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APE) causes right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation. Patients with RVD and cTnI elevation have a worse prognosis. Thus, early detection of RVD and cTnI elevation is beneficial for risk stratification. In this study, we assessed 14-day adverse clinical events and combined RVD on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with cTnI in risk stratification among a broad spectrum of APE patients. ⋯ RVD, RVED/LVED, and cTnI are independent predictors of 14-day clinical outcomes. The patients with RVED/LVED greater than 0.65 and cTnI higher than 0.11 ng/ml at presentation possibly have adverse 14-day events. RVD combined with cTnI can identify a subgroup of APE patients with a much more guarded prognosis.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Jan 2007
The role of capsule endoscopy combined with double-balloon enteroscopy in diagnosis of small bowel diseases.
The diagnosis of small bowel diseases remains relatively inefficient using traditional imaging techniques. Capsule endoscopy (CE) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) are two novel methods of enteroscopy for examining the entire small bowel. The aim of this study was to evaluate the detection rate and diagnostic accuracy of CE and DBE in patients with suspected small bowel diseases and to investigate the clinical significance of combined use of these two novel modalities. ⋯ The detection rate of small bowel diseases by CE is very high. CE should be selected for the initial diagnosis in patients with suspected small bowel diseases, especially in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. DBE appears to be inferior to CE in the diagnosis of small bowel diseases. However, it was shown that abnormalities could still be identified by DBE in patients with normal images or used to confirm suspected findings from CE. DBE can also serve as a good complementary approach after an initial diagnostic imaging using CE.
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Dystonia is one of the most challenging movement disorders to treat. Medications and surgeries are the two methods to control dystonic symptoms. For patients with dystonia in whom symptoms are inadequately controlled with pharmacologic measures, the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve symptoms and enhance functional capacity. The best candidate for DBS is believed to be primary generalized dystonia, especially the DYT-1 type. Here, we report 9 cases of secondary dystonia to explore the feasibility, indications and complications of DBS in the treatment of secondary dystonia. ⋯ DBS could be an ideal treatment for patients with tardive and posttraumatic dystonia. For patients with perinatal anoxia and diffuse impairment in the basal ganglia, DBS seemed not to be a good choice. STN could be an ideal target. Intraoperative microelectrode recording and mild amelioration of muscle tension are indicators of correct target location. No severe complications occurred.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Dec 2006
Activation and coreceptor expression of T lymphocytes induced by highly active antiretroviral therapy in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients.
At the end of 2005, 650,000 people lived with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) in China, of whom 75 000 were AIDS patients. Many AIDS patients received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) supported by the "China CARES" program but the immune responses of HAART were seldom reported. This study investigated the effect of HAART on the activation and coreceptor expression of T lymphocytes in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients and evaluated its effect on immune reconstitution. ⋯ Reduced activation of T lymphocytes and a normalization of coreceptor expression were observed in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients after HAART. Immunity can be restored in HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART.
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Chinese Med J Peking · Dec 2006
Evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders following traumatic brain injury.
Improvement of clinical symptoms following hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders arising from traumatic brain injury was proved by our previous study. This study was aim to obtain the evidence of other changes. ⋯ SPECT was much more sensitive than CT in the diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders following hyperbaric oxygen treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders arising from traumatic brain injury.