Performance and comparison of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate in a Chinese Type 2 diabetic population.

AIMS: Our aim was to assess performances of the Cockcroft-Gault and simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic populations and their association with vascular risks. METHODS: A total of 1009 patients with Type 2 diabetes were categorized into low estimated GFR groups (GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and control groups by the two equations. The performances of these formulae were assessed at different stages of kidney function. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy or albuminuria were compared among the groups. The ability of these formulae to identify established vascular risk markers using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were also compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of low estimated GFR was 32.7% with the Cockcroft-Gault formula and 5.2% with the MDRD formula, respectively. In low estimated GFR subjects by the MDRD formula, IMT was significantly thicker than those by the Cockcroft-Gault formula (1.2 mm vs. 1.0 mm; P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence of albuminuria (78.4 vs. 52.8%, P < 0.05) and diabetic retinopathy (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P < 0.05). The Cockcroft-Gault formula gave a specificity of 71.7% and a sensitivity of 37.0%, and the MDRD formula gave a specificity of 96.6% and a sensitivity of 7.9% in estimating low GFR relevant for established vascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: These formulae performed differently in Chinese diabetic populations. The simplified MDRD formula is minimally superior to the Cockcroft-Gault formula for its high specificity and positive predictive values in estimating low GFR relevant for vascular risks.     

慢性脑低灌注的病理生理学和药物治疗

慢性脑低灌注时,脑组织发生一系列病理生理学改变,临床主要表现为进行性认知功能减退,是血管性痴呆、Alzheimer病和Binswanger病等多种疾病发展过程中的一个共同的病理学过程。目前对慢性脑低灌注的临床治疗方法和手段极其有限。因此,研究其发病机制以及预防和治疗措施显得尤为重要。     

HBeAg阳性与阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者中医辨证及其相关指标的比较

目的探讨HBeAg阳性与阴性慢性乙型肝炎(慢乙肝)患者中医辨证及其相关指标的相关性。方法对226例慢乙肝患者进行中医辨证分型,检测乙肝两对半、乙肝病毒DNA定量和肝功能、肝纤维化指标。结果各证型的乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)水平呈一定规律性,肝郁脾虚型>肝肾阴虚型>湿热中阻型>脾肾阳虚型>瘀血阻络型,随着病情的活动、病程的推延,HBV水平逐渐下降。无论HBeAg阳性与阴性,慢乙肝患者肝郁脾虚、肝肾阴虚、脾肾阳虚、瘀血阻络各型与湿热中阻型相比肝功能和肝纤维化指标均存在显著性差异。结论各证型的HBV水平呈一定规律性,提示病毒滴度与中医病因病机的转化有一定关系。湿热中阻和瘀血阻络是肝纤维化的关键。     

慢性乙型肝炎肝郁脾虚证的logistic回归及判别分析

目的归纳慢性乙型肝炎肝郁脾虚证的辨证要点。方法对慢性乙型肝炎肝郁脾虚证、肝郁证、脾虚证的症状及舌、脉进行logistic回归及判别分析。结果肝郁脾虚证logistic回归提取的症状为腹胀、倦怠乏力、腹痛、食欲不振、紧脉、便溏、胁肋疼痛、胁肋不适；判别方程包含的症状则为腹痛、腹胀、倦怠乏力、便溏、黄苔。结论肝郁脾虚证的辨证要点包括胁肋疼痛或不适、腹胀、腹痛、乏力、食欲不振、便溏。利用logistic回归和判别分析归纳本证诊断要点是可行的。     

Creatine has no beneficial effect on skeletal muscle energy metabolism in patients with single mitochondrial DNA deletions: a placebo-controlled, double-blind 31P-MRS crossover study

The purpose of our randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in 15 patients with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) or Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) because of single large-scale mitochondrial (mt) DNA deletions was to determine whether oral creatine (Cr) monohydrate can improve skeletal muscle energy metabolism in vivo. Each treatment phase with Cr in a dosage of 150 mg/kg body weight/day or placebo lasted 6 weeks. The effect of Cr was estimated by phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS), clinical and laboratory tests. (31)P-MRS analysis prior to treatment showed clear evidence of severe mitochondrial dysfunction. However, there were no relevant changes in (31)P-MRS parameters under Cr. In particular, phosphocreatine (PCr)/ATP at rest did not increase, and there was no facilitation of post-exercise PCr recovery. Clinical scores and laboratory tests did not alter significantly under Cr, which was tolerated without major side-effects in all patients. Cr supplementation did not improve skeletal muscle oxidative phosphorylation in our series of patients. However, one explanation for our negative findings may be the short study duration or the limited number of patients included.     

National Study of Emergency Department Visits for Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 1993–2005

Objectives: Little is known about recent trends in U.S. emergency department (ED) visits for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) or about ED management of AECOPD. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of ED visits for AECOPD and to evaluate concordance with guideline‐recommended care. Methods: Data were obtained from National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). ED visits for AECOPD, during 1993 to 2005, were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes. Concordance with guideline recommendations was evaluated using process measures. Results: Over the 13‐year study period, there was an average annual 0.6 million ED visits for AECOPD, and the visit rates for AECOPD were consistently high (3.2 per 1,000 U.S. population; P_trend = 0.13). The trends in the use of chest radiograph, pulse oximetry, or bronchodilator remained stable (all P_trend > 0.5). By contrast, the use of systemic corticosteroids increased from 29% in 1993–1994 to 60% in 2005, antibiotics increased from 14% to 42%, and methylxanthines decreased from 15% to <1% (all P_trend < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed patients in the South (vs. the Northeast) were less likely to receive systemic corticosteroids (odds ratio [OR] = 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.4 to 0.9). Conclusions: The high burden of ED visits for AECOPD persisted. Overall concordance with guideline‐recommended care for AECOPD was moderate, and some emergency treatments had improved over time.     

The use of the Impact on Sibling scale with families of children with chronic illness and developmental disability

Objective   This study evaluated the Impact on Sibling scale, a six-item measure of parents' perception of the effects of a child's illness on healthy siblings.
Methods   Participants were 122 parents of a child with chronic illness, developmental disability, or autism spectrum disorder, and a well sibling aged 4–13 years. Parents completed the Impact on Sibling scale and the Child Behavior Checklist about the sibling, and completed the revised Impact on Family scale and the Brief Symptom Inventory about themselves.
Results   The Impact on Sibling score was correlated with measures of sibling, parent and family functioning. The internal consistency of the Impact on Sibling scale was higher for families with children with chronic illness compared with the other two diagnostic groups.
Conclusion   The Impact on Sibling scale is a brief set of items that can help identify siblings who are negatively affected by a brother/sister's illness. Findings support further research on the Impact on Sibling scale, particularly with families of children with chronic illnesses.     

体外短波热疗联合前列腺灸及哈乐治疗非细菌性前列腺炎和前列腺痛疗效观察

目的 探讨慢性非细菌性前列腺炎（CNP）和前列腺痛（PD）的治疗方法。方法 应用体外短波热疗联合前列腺灸及α1A-肾上腺素能受体阻滞剂哈乐治疗CNP和PD患者26例，疗程8周。观察治疗前后前列腺炎症状评分（CPSI）与最大尿流率（MFR）变化。结果 有效率为80．8％。治疗前后CPSI和MFR均有显著改善（P〈0．05）。结论 体外短波热疗联合前列腺灸及哈乐治疗CNP和PD安全有效。     

应用个体化营养方案对COPD患者病情影响的研究

目的　研究应用个体化营养方案对慢性阻塞性肺疾病 (COPD)患者进行营养治疗后的病情变化 ,评价个体化营养方案对病情的影响 ,阐明个体化营养方案的治疗价值。方法　选择 80例COPD患者 ,随机分为实验组与对照组 ,实验组应用个体化方案进行营养治疗 ,对照组采用普通膳食 ,观察营养状况、临床表现、病情急性发作次数、住院次数、治疗费用、并发症、呼吸衰竭发生率、死亡率、肺通气功能的变化。结果　实验组营养状况显著好于对照组P <0. 0 5 ,实验组病情急性发作次数、住院天数减少 ,治疗费用降低 ,与对照组比 ,差异显著P <0 . 0 5 ,实验组临床表现减轻 ,与对照组比差异显著P <0 . 0 5 ,实验组患者肺功能有所改善 ,差异显著P <0 . 0 5 ,实验组并发症、呼衰发生率、死亡率与对照组比显著降低P <0 . 0 5。结论　个体化营养方案简便易行、科学、经济 ,患者易接受 ,应用该个体化营养方案对COPD患者实施营养支持 ,营养效果明显 ,能确切改善患者病情。     

氨溴索对慢性阻塞性肺疾病大鼠模型肺的保护作用

①目的　探讨氨溴索对肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF α)在慢性阻塞性肺疾病 (COPD)大鼠模型肺内表达与分布的影响以及肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞超微结构的影响。②方法　实验大鼠随机分为 3组 :健康对照组 (n =8) ,COPD模型组 (n =1 2 ) ,氨溴索干预组 (n =1 2 )。采用熏吸香烟并气管内注入脂多糖法建立大鼠COPD模型 ,氨溴索干预组于COPD模型开始建立时腹腔注射氨溴索溶液 4 0mg/ (kg·d) ,连续 4 0d。观察各组气道炎症的病理特点、超微结构特点、血气指标、肺泡平均内衬间隔、平均肺泡数。应用原位杂交法检测TNF α基因表达的相对含量。③结果　所建COPD模型的病理以及病理生理学改变符合人类COPD的特点。氨溴索干预组肺泡平均内衬间隔、平均肺泡数、TNF α表达强度与健康对照组、COPD模型组比较差异有显著性 (F =3.2 4～ 1 1 .1 1 ,q =4 .74～ 36 .2 2 ,P <0 .0 1 ) ;动脉血氧分压、二氧化碳分压差异亦有显著性 (F =3.30、8.79,q =3.5 0～ 8.6 9,P <0 .0 5 )。 ④结论　长期应用氨溴索对COPD大鼠模型气道炎症有明显的抑制作用