小气道指标对支气管激发试验结果的预测价值

目的：探讨慢性咳嗽患者小气道功能指标对支气管激发试验(BPT)结果的预测价值。方法：160例慢性咳嗽患者行支气管激发试验,分别比较阳性和阴性患者的小气道功能,并评价其与支气管激发试验结果的相关性。结果：与阴性组比较,支气管激发试验阳性组患者25%、50%、75%肺活量位的用力呼气流速(FEF 25%、FEF 50%、FEF 75%）和最大呼气中期流速(MMEF 75/25）明显降低(P＜0.05）。慢性咳嗽患者FEF 50%和MMEF 75/25与激发试验后第1秒用力呼气量(FEV1）的下降率呈负相关(P＜0.05）。FEF 75%、FEF 50%、FEF 25%、MMEF 75/25对支气管激发试验的阳性结果有一定的预测价值。结论：FEF 50、MMEF 75/25可用来预测支气管激发试验后FEV1的下降率;基础小气道功能对支气管激发试验的结果有一定的预测价值。     

支气管哮喘患者小气道阻塞程度及可逆性研究

目的探讨支气管哮喘患者激发试验前后及舒张试验前后小气道功能的变化。方法采用前瞻性研究方法,对31例已确诊为支气管哮喘的患者行支气管激发试验,激发试验阳性患者予以沙丁胺醇气雾剂吸人,15min后再测定患者肺功能。选择同时期条件匹配的28例气道高反应性升高但不能诊断为哮喘的非哮喘患者作为对照,比较两组间激发试验前后及使用支气管舒张剂后小气道功能指标的差异。结果①激发前和激发后,哮喘组最大呼气中期流速（MMEF）、用力呼气25％肺活量的瞬间流量（FEF25％）、用力呼气50％肺活量的瞬间流量（FEF50％）和用力呼气75％肺活量的瞬间流量（FEF75％）均显著低于非哮喘组（P〈0．01）。舒张后FEF25％和FEF50％在丽组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,但MMEF和FEF75％在两组间差异元统计学意义（P〉0．05）。②哮喘组激发前后第一秒用力呼气容积占预计值百分比（FEV1％）、MMEF、FEF25％、FEF50％和FEF75％的下降率显著高于非哮喘组（P〈0．01）,舒张前后MMEF、FEF25％、FEF50％和FEF75％的上升率也显著高于非哮喘组（P〈0．001）,而FEVt％的上升率在两组间差异无统计学意义。③哮喘组激发前后及舒张前后MMEF和FEF75％的变异率要显著高于FEV1％（P〈0．01）。非哮喘组激发前后MMEF和FEF75％的变异率也要显著高于FEV1％（P〈0．05）,但舒张前后变异率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论支气管哮喘患者小气道功能要低于其他原因所致的气道高反应性患者,小气道阻塞的可逆性要高于其他原因所致的气道高反应性患者。支气管哮喘患者大、小气道均存在可逆性阻塞,小气道阻塞的可逆程度要高于大气道。     

慢性咳嗽患者小气道功能与气道高反应的相关性分析

目的 探讨小气道功能对气道高反应的预测价值.方法 收集疑似存在气道高反应且通气功能和支气管舒张试验均正常的慢性咳嗽患者194例,分析小气道功能指标与气道反应性和敏感性指标间的相关关系.结果 本组支气管激发试验阳性率72.68％,阳性组与阴性组比较,25％,50％,75％肺活量位的用力呼气流速(FEF 25％、FEF 50％、FEF 75％)和最大呼气中期流速(MMEF75/25)显著下降(P＜0.01),而肺活量(VC)、用力肺活量(FVC)、第1秒用力呼气量(FEV1)、最大呼气流量(PEF)无统计学差异.小气道功能异常发生率为39.18％,异常组激发试验阳性率为92.11％,正常组为60.17％,两组阳性率差异有统计学意义.小气道功能正常组和异常组比较,基础呼吸阻力(Rrs)、基础呼吸传导率(Grs)、反应阈值(Dmin)和PD35的差异有统计学意义,传导率下降斜率(SGrs)的差异无统计学意义.小气道功能指标与气道反应性和敏感性指标相关(r值最高为0.47).FEF 25％、FEF 50％、FEF 75％、MMEF 75/25与PD35、Dmin多元同归分析的负相关系数分别为0.472 1和0.459 1(P值均＜0.05).Logistic回归分析显示:小气道功能异常对激发试验结果有显著影响(P=0.000 3,OR值为6.19).结论 支气管激发试验阳性患者与阴性患者相比小气道功能有统计学差异,小气道功能下降对气道高反应有一定的预测价值.     

小气道功能与气道高反应性的相关性分析

目的 分析小气道功能与气道高反应性的相关性.方法 对272例疑似哮喘患者行基础肺功能及支气管激发试验,分析其小气道功能与气道高反应性之间的关系.结果 支气管激发试验阳性组患者最大中期呼气流速占预计值百分比(MMEF％ pred)、呼气峰值流速占预计值百分比(PEF％pred)、用力呼气75％、50％、25％肺活量的瞬时流速占预计值百分比(FEF75％ pred、FEF50％ pred、FEF25％ pred)明显低于支气管激发试验阴性组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05);小气道功能异常组支气管激发试验阳性率明显高于正常组(86.0％ vs 54.0％),差异有统计学意义(X2=19.347, P＜0.01);MMEF75/25％ pred、FEF75％ pred、 FEF50％pred、FEF25％pred、PEF％pred 作受试者工作特征曲线,曲线下面积分别为0.702(95％ CI: 0.640～0.764)、 0. 654(95％ CI: 0. 588 ～ 0. 720)、0. 704(95％ CI: 0. 642 ～ 0.765)、0.723(95％ CI:0. 662 ～0. 784)及 0. 682(95％ CI: 0.616 ～0.749),各指标与参考线下面积0. 5相比,均差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05); PD20FEV1 与 MMEF75/25％ pred、 FEF75％ pred、FEF50％ pred、FEF25 ％ pred、PEF％ pred 均呈正相关性,相关系数分别为 0. 524、0.439、0. 540、0. 418、0. 276.结论 与气道反应性正常的患者相比,存在气道高反应性的患者小气道功能明显偏低;小气道功能异常的患者行支气管激发试验可能更易出现阳性结果;小气道功能某种程度上可以反映气道高反应性的严重程度.     

小气道功能对咳嗽变异型哮喘患者的诊断价值探讨

目的 探讨小气道功能异常对咳嗽变异型哮喘患者的诊断价值.方法 入组100例慢性咳嗽患者进行支气管激发试验,按随访结果分为咳嗽变异型哮喘(CVA)组与非CVA组,比较2组患者激发前基础状态下及激发结束时的肺通气功能,小气道功能异常的发生率及小气道功能的变化率,分析各参数变化率的敏感度及特异度.结果 2组激发后与激发前基础状态相比FVC、FVC％、FEV1、FEV1％、FEV1/FVC％、FEF25、FEF25％、FEF50、FEF50％、FEF75、FEF75％、MMEF、MMEF％均有明显下降(P＜0.05),激发前及激发后CVA组的各项参数较非CVA组均有明显下降,差异有统计学意义.CVA组FEF25％、FEF50％、FEF75％、MMEF％较非CVA组均有明显下降,差异有统计学意义.CVA组小气道异常率明显高于阴性组(P＜0.01).CVA组FEF25、FEF50、FEF75、MMEF变化率高于非CVA组(P＜0.05).曲线下面积结果提示:FEV1变化率＞FEF25变化率＞FEF50变化率＞FEV1变化量＞MMEF变化率＞FEF75变化率.结论 在激发前基础状态下及激发后,CVA患者大小气道功能均低于非CVA患者,FEF50变化率对CVA诊断的敏感度最高,重视小气道功能异常能协助临床早期发现CVA.     

必可酮吸入治疗咳嗽变异型哮喘的肺功能评价

目的评价吸入必可酮气雾荆(BDP)对咳嗽变异型哮喘(CVA)的疗效。方法40例CVA患者予BDP吸入治疗3个月，治疗前后测定肺功能：用力肺活量(FVC)、一秒钟用力呼气容积(FEV1.0)、呼气峰流速(PEF)、最大呼气中段流量(FEF25～75％、50％肺活量最大呼气流量(FEF50％)、25％肺活量最大呼气流量(FEF75％)、气道阻力Raw和比气道传导率sGaw，并与对照组比较。结果CVA患者FVC、FEV1.0。PEF接近于正常人，而FEF25～75％ FEF30％、FEF75％、sGaw明显低于正常(P＜0．01)，Raw高于正常(P＜0．01)。治疗NFEF25～75％、FEF50％、FEF75％、sGaw显著增高(P＜0．01)，Raw明显降低(P＜0.01)。结论CVA患者存在小气道功能障碍，BDP吸入治疗疗效肯定，可改善肺功能。     

哮喘缓解期患儿小气道功能的监测及临床意义

【摘要】目的 监测哮喘缓解期患儿小气道功能变化并分析其临床意义。方法 选取2013年1月~2015年12月期间收治的100例哮喘缓解期患儿为观察组作为研究对象,并选取同一时期健康儿童50例作为对照组,所有受试者均接受肺功能检查。观察组患儿检查后接受6个月的观察并根据发作情况进行分级,比较不同患儿的大气道功能指标用力肺活量（FVC）、最大呼气流量（PEF）、第1秒用力呼气量（FEV1）及FEV1/FVC）和小气道功能指标最大呼气中期流速（MMEF75/25）、不同呼吸量的瞬间流速（FEF）25、50及75。结果 与对照组相比,观察组患儿的FVC、PEF、FEV1及FEV1/FVC无明显变化（P＞0.05）,MMEF75/25、FEF25、FEF50及FEF75显著降低（P＜0.05）;两组儿童的FVC、PEF、FEV1及FEV1/FVC比较差异无统计学（P＞0.05）,MMEF75/25、FEF25、FEF50及FEF75的差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 哮喘缓解期患儿仍存在小气道功能受损,小气道功能监测对患儿发作风险具有提示作用。     

儿童肺炎支原体肺炎肺功能改变及临床意义的探讨

目的:探讨儿童肺炎支原体肺炎（MPP）肺功能改变情况及临床意义。方法:收集114例社区获得性肺炎（CAP）患儿,根据是否MP感染分为MPP组70例、非MPP组44例;选取同期健康体检儿童42例（对照组）,年龄6～14岁。入院后采用意大利MIR spirolab Ⅲ肺功能仪测定用力肺活量（FVC）、第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、1秒率（FEV1/FVC）、最大呼气流量（PEF）、最大呼气中期流量（MMEF）、用力呼出25%肺活量时瞬间流量（FEF25）、用力呼出50%肺活量时瞬间流量（FEF50）、用力呼出75%肺活量时瞬间流量（FEF75）,其中43例MPP组患儿、24例非MPP组患儿均于临床恢复期（病程第4周）复查肺功能。结果:MPP组急性期肺功能各项指标（FVC、FEV1%、FEV1/FVC、MMEF、FEF25、FEF50、FEF75）较对照组明显下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;非MPP组急性期FVC、FEV1%、FEF50、FEF75较对照组下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,而MPP组MMEF、FEF50、FEF75 较非MPP组下降更为明显,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;非MPP组恢复期肺功能大小气道指标均恢复正常,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;MPP组恢复期肺功能FVC、FEV1%、FEV1/FVC较急性期均恢复正常,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,而MMEF、FEF50、FEF75略有升高,其中FEF50、FEF75仍低于65%,且差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论:儿童CAP急性期大小气道均有不同程度损伤,非MPP患儿于恢复期大小气道通气功能均恢复正常,MPP患儿小气道受损更为明显,改善缓慢,恢复期仍存在一定程度气道受限。     

支气管扩张试验在儿童咳嗽变异性哮喘中的诊断意义

目的：了解支气管扩张试验在儿童咳嗽变异性哮喘（CVA）的诊断意义。方法：对48例CVA患儿分别进行支气管扩张试验前后肺功能检测。指标包括：用力肺活量（FVC）、一秒量（FEV,）、最大呼气流速（PEF）、呼出肺活量25％时的用力呼气流速（FEFzs）、呼出肺活量50％时的用力呼气流速（FEFso）、呼出肺活量75％时的用力呼气流速（FEF75）、75％用力呼气流速比25（FEF75／25）。结果：支气管扩张试验前后各项指标有显著性差异（P〈0．001）,具有统计学意义。结论：CVA患儿存在一定可逆的气道阻塞性改变,支气管扩张试验可协助明确诊断,具有一定的临床诊断价值。     

PULMONARY FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF 93 PATIENTS WITH SMALLAIRWAY DYSFUNCTION

目的:探讨单纯胸闷气短患者肺功能小气道指标25％用力呼气流速(FEF25)、最大中期呼气流速(FEF25-75)、75％用力呼气流速(FEF75)的变化及临床意义.方法:对以胸闷气短为主诉但诊断不明确的患者(小气道功能异常组)行肺功能检测,以同期轻度阻塞性通气功能障碍的哮喘患者(哮喘组)和慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者(COPD组)作为对照组.分别检测三组患者的小气道指标FEF25、FEF25-75、FEF75和Raw.结果:FEF25、FEF25-75和FEF75三个指标中,FEF25-75诊断小气道功能异常的灵敏度最高;小气道功能异常组FEF25、FEF25-75明显高于哮喘组和COPD组,Raw明显低于哮喘组和COPD组,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论:FEF25-75对诊断伴有小气道功能异常的单纯胸闷气短具有临床意义,部分胸闷气短症状可能是哮喘或COPD的前奏.     

Value of D-Dimers in patients with acute aortic dissection

Objective: To evaluatel the value of D-dimers in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD). Methods: This study consisted of 16 patients with AAD and 27 non-AAD patients. Serum D-dimets were measured by Sta-Liatest D-DI immunoturbidimetric assay. Results: D-dimer level was higher (P ＜ 0.001) in patients with AAD(7.91 ± 5.52 μg/ml) than that in non- AAD group(1.57±1.24 μg/ml). D-dimer was positive (＞0.4 μg/ml) in all patients with AAD and in 10 control group patients (37%). Among patients with acute AAD, D-dimers tended to be higher in Stanford A than in Stanford B (8.67 ± 4.31 μg/ml vs. 3.24±1.27 μg/ml, P ＜0.01). D-dimer values tended to be higher in more extended disease(3.84 ± 1.65 μg/ml, 8.57 ± 3.58 μg/ml and 11.87 ± 5.69 μg/ml in thoracic aorta, thoracic and abdominal aorta, thoracic and abdominal aorta and iliacal arteries, respectively, P ＜ 0.05 for both 8.57 ± 3.58 and 11.87 ± 5.69 vs. 3.84 ± 1.65 ). Including the control group into the analysis, we found a sensitivity of 100%, a negative predictive value of 100%, and a specificity of 66% and a positive predictive value of 64% for D-dimer in diagnosis of AAD in our patients with suspected AAD. Conclusion: D-dimer was elevated in patients with AAD. A negative D-dimer test result could be useful in excluding AAD.     

Research of combined liver-kidney transplantation model in rats

Objective： To set up a simple and reliable rat model of combined liver-kidney transplantation. Methods： SD rats served as both donors and recipients. 4℃ sodium lactate Ringer＇s was infused from portal veins to donated livers,and from abdominal aorta to donated kidneys, respectively. Anastomosis of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava （IVC） inferior to the right kidney between the graft and the recipient was performed by a double cuff method, then the superior hepatic vena cava with suture. A patch of donated renal artery was anastomosed to the recipient abdominal aorta. The urethra and bile duct were reconstructed with a simple inside bracket. Results： Among 65 cases of combined liver-kidney transplantation, the success rate in the late 40 cases was 77.5%. The function of the grafted liver and kidney remained normal. Conclusion： This rat model of combined liver-kidney transplantation can be established in common laboratory conditions with high success rate and meet the needs of renal transplantation experiment.     

BLOOD PRESSURE CHANGE WITH AGE IN SALT-SENSITIVE TEENAGERS

Objective To observe blood pressure change with age in salt-sensitive teenagers whose salt sensitivity were determined by repeated testing.Methods Salt sensitivity was determined through intravenous infusion of normal saline combined with volume-depletion by oral diuretic furosemide in 55 teenagers. After five years, salt sensitivity was re-examined and subject blood pressure was followed up. Blood pressure changes in salt-sensitive teenagers were compared to that of non-salt sensitive teenagers over five years.Results After 5 years, the repetition rate of salt sensitivity determined by intravenous saline loading is 92.7%. In teenagers with salt sensitivity on the baseline, both the systolic blood pressure increments and increment rates were much higher than non-salt sensitive teenagers (12.7±12.1 mmHg vs. 2.8±5.2 mmHg, P＜ 0.01; 12.2%± 12.0% vs. 2.5% ±4.4%, P＜ 0.001,respectively). There was a similar trend for diastolic blood pressure (8.4 ± 6.4 mmHg vs. 3.7 ± 6.4 mmHg, P = 0.052; 13.2% ±10.6 % vs. 6.8%± 10.1%, P = 0.053, respectively).Conclusions Salt sensitivity determined by intravenous saline loading showed good reproducibility. Blood pressure increments with age were much higher in salt-sensitive teenagers than non-salt sensitive teenagers, especially in terms of systolic blood pressure.     

安心颗粒对急诊经皮冠状动脉介入术后生活质量影响的研究

目的：评价使用安心颗粒对急诊经皮冠状动脉介入术（PPCI）术后生活质量的影响.方法：将160例接受PPCI的急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者随机分为安心颗粒组（术前顿服安心颗粒8.8g,术后安心颗粒4.4 g/次,每日2次）和对照组（仅接受基础药物治疗）.所有患者均服用阿司匹林、氯吡格雷和阿托伐他汀.分别在入院时、出院前1d、出院后180 d时,应用心肌梗死多维度量表（MIDAS）、中文版SF-36评价量表对患者生活质量评分.并观察术后30 d以内的出血并发症、血小板减少症发生情况.结果：入院时和出院前1d,两组患者的心肌梗死MIDAS、SF-36量表评分比较无差异（P＞0.05）;出院后180 d时,与对照组比较,安心颗粒组MIDAS、SF-36评分明显减低（P＜0.05）;组内与入院时比较,两组出院前1d、出院后180 d时,MIDAS、SF-36评分均降低（P＜0.05）.两组患者在随访期间均无大量出血、少量出血、重度和极重度血小板减少症发生,安心颗粒组有4例、对照组有7例发生不明显出血（P＞0.05）.两组发生轻度血小板减少症的患者数比较无差异（P＞0.05）.结论：PPCI使用安心颗粒,能改善急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者的生活质量,且不增加出血风险.     

The comparative studies of the influences of Urapidil and Nicardipine on sino-atrial node function, atrio-ventricular node function and hemodynamics

Objective:To investigate the influences of urapidil and nicardipine on rabbit sinus function,atrio-ventricular node function and hemodynamics.Methods:Thirty-two Angora's rabbits were selected and randomly divided into four groups.U1 group:urapidil 0.25 mg/kg;U2 group:urapidil 0.5 mg/kg;N1 group:nicardipine 10 μg/kg;N2 group:nicardipine 20 μg/kg.All these medicine were administrated within 30 seconds.Measurements were taken before and after the administration of urapidil or nicardipine for the following data:mean blood pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),sino-atrial conduction time(SACT),maximal sinoatrial recovery time(SNRTmax)corrected sinus node recovery time(CSNRT),index of sinus node recovery time(SNRTI),Wenckebach A-V conduction frequency (WB),and P-R interval.Results:Significant MAP and HR changes were identified in all of the four groups before and after administration of both urapidil and nicardipine.No significant changes could be found in the rest of the parameters.Intergroup analysis showed that SACT and CSNRT of N1 and N2 groups were shorter than those of the U2 group(P＜0.01);the MAP decreased(P＜0.01)and the HR increased drastically(P＜0.01).Conclusions:Neither urapidil(0.25 mg/kg,0.5 mg/kg)nor nicardipine(10μg/kg,20μg/kg)has any significant influence on rabbit sinus function or rabbit atrio-ventricular node function.Nicardipine could be a better choice than urapidil for parafunctional sinus node patients.     

Expression of OPGmRNA and ODFmRNA in the patients of hip fracture due to osteoporosis

Objective：To investigate the gene expression of osteoprotegerin（OPG） and osteoclast differentiation factor（ODF） in the bone tissue of patients with hip fracture due to osteoporosis. Methods：OPGmRNA and ODFmRNA in the bone tissue in 50 cases of osteoporosis sufferers（over 50 years old） with hip fracture（Observer Group） and 30 cases of hip facture sufferers with no osteoporosis（Control group） were analyzed with the Semi-Quantitative RT-PCR method. Results：The mRNA expressed of ODF, OPG were both high in the patients with hip fracture. In the control group, the expression of OPG mRNA was observed, while the expression of ODF mRNA was very slight. Conclusion：Aged patients contained all signals including OPG, ODF that are essential for inducing osteoclastogenesis and promoting bone resorption.     

The clinicopathological and immuohistochemical analysis of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas： report of 9 cases

Objective：To investigate the clinical features, pathological characteristics and immunophenotype of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas（SPTP）. Methods：Nine surgically treated cases of SPTP were retrospectively reviewed. Hematoxylin and Eosin（HE） staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to analyze all cases, and the general clinical data was collected. Results：Six patients were asymptomatic except for a palpable mass. Two patients complained of vague-epigastric pain. One patient appeared jaundice. The tumor was encapsulated and solid tissues alternately with cystic tissues. Histologically, the histological structure of solid portion was pseudopapillary with a fibrovascular core. Tumor cells were uniform and medium-sized which were arranged in sheets ets or nests or pseudopapillary patterns. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that SPTP proved positive in vimentin（9/9 cases）, AAT（9/9 cases）, NSE（9/9 cases）, ACT（7/9 cases）, CK20（2/9 cases）, CgA（1/9 cases）, S-100（3/gcases）, PR（4/gcases）, Syn（3/9 cases） and CD56（5/9cases）, negative in CEA and ER. Conclusion：SPTP is a tumor predominantly occurring in young women frequently without special symptoms. This tumor has various characteristical histological patterns with different immunophenotype.     

Dynamic Changes in Serum Estradiol and Progesterone levels in Patients of Premenstrual Syndrome with Adverse Flow of Liver-qi

Objective:To probe into the influence of changes of ovarian hormones on the pathogenesis of the specific sub-type premenstrual syndrome(PMS)and reveal partial microcosmic mechanisms of adverse flow of liver-qi.Methods:Estradiol(E2)and progesterone(P)levels in serum were determined at different phases of menstrual cycle by radioimmunoassay.Results:In the group of PMS with adverse flow of liver-qi.the secretive peak value Of E2 and P at the follicular phase significantly decreased,and the secretive peak value at the luteal phase did not come into being.Conclusions:Low E2 and P secretive peak at the follicular phase and absence of secretive peak at the luteal phase is one of the microcosmic mechanisms of PMS with adverse flow of liver-qi.One of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of specific sub-type PMS is probably the continuous low level of E2and P.     

Real-time Three-dimensional Echocardiography in Assessment of Left Ventricular and Right Ventricular Volumes

Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE)is a new ultrasound technique that enables dynamic threedimensional visualization and quantification of the heart in real time. Investigation of feasibility and methodology of RT3DE in determining left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) volumes, RT3DE was performed in 35 normal adults using Philips SONOS 7500 system with a 2-4 MHz matrix array transducer. The 60°×60° "pyramid" volume database was obtained and analyzed on a TomTec echo workstation. Both LV and RV volumes were calculated with four 3DE methods (i.e. apical 2, 4, 8, and 16-plane) through manually tracing ventricular endocardial borders in end diastole and end systole. Stroke volumes were then calculated. LV volume was also measured by 2DE Simpson's rule using GE VIVID 7 ultrasound machine.     

SCREENING FOR A 21-CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITY IN PREIMPLANTED EMBRYOS OF ELDERLY WOMEN

Increasing maternal age is the only etiological factor unequivocally linked to Down's syndrome in humans. The occurrence rate of newborns with Down's syndrome is about 1/220 in women over 35 years old. However, the occurrence rate in embryos fertilized in vitro, of the elder woman is unclear. Using FISH we screened the number of chromosome 21 in preimplanted embryos of 5 elderly women (average age, 38.4 years) to study the feasibility and necessity of screening trisomy 21 in embryos in patients over 35 years old at the in vitro fertilization (IVF) center.