ObjectiveTo explore the relationship of obesity with asthma control and airway inflammatory phenotype. MethodsA cross-sectional prospective study was conducted on 101 patients with asthma. Asthma control level was assessed by Asthma Control Test (ACT) and GINA. Furthermore, height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Lung function and sputum induction were performed, and differential cell count was obtained from induced sputum and peripheral blood. ResultsNinety eligible patients were divided into 3 groups as a normal-weight group (n=54), an over-weight group (n=21) and an obesity group (n=15). The asthma control levels were different among three groups (P=0.019 for ACT and P=0.014 for GINA, respectively). BMI was positively related to the number of neutrophils in induced sputum (r=0.29, P=0.039). Increased BMI deteriorated asthma control levels assessed by ACT[OR=1.84, 95% CI (1.04, 3.23), P=0.035] and GINA[OR=2.27, 95% CI (1.27, 4.07), P=0.006] in a dose-response manner. Obesity indicated poor asthma control assessed by ACT (P=0.015) and GINA (P=0.008) after adjusting for age, sex, duration of asthma, FEV1%pred, smoking, and the number of neutrophils in peripheral blood. ConclusionsIn Chinese individuals with asthma, neutrophilic inflammatory phenotype dominates the airway inflammation of obesity-associated asthma. Obesity is a risk factor that deteriorates asthma control level in a significant dose-response manner.
The aim of this study is to investigate the search time regulation of objectives and eye movement behavior characteristics in the multi-objective visual search. The experimental task was accomplished with computer programming and presented characters on a 24 inch computer display. The subjects were asked to search three targets among the characters. Three target characters in the same group were of high similarity degree while those in different groups of target characters and distraction characters were in different similarity degrees. We recorded the search time and eye movement data through the whole experiment. It could be seen from the eye movement data that the quantity of fixation points was large when the target characters and distraction characters were similar. There were three kinds of visual search patterns for the subjects including parallel search, serial search, and parallel-serial search. In addition, the last pattern had the best search performance among the three search patterns, that is, the subjects who used parallel-serial search pattern spent shorter time finding the target. The order that the targets presented were able to affect the search performance significantly; and the similarity degree between target characters and distraction characters could also affect the search performance.
Objective To study the cause of the low rate of breast conservation and reconstruction by investigating the approval degree of breast conserving therapy and breast reconstruction of women with breast diseases, to help the breast surgeons make better communication with the patients and make more pertinent choices of therapeutic methods. Methods The age, occupation, educational background, the attitudes towards breast conserving therapy and breast reconstruction， and the choice of operative method of breast reconstruction of 139 patients with breast cancer and 224 patients with benign breast disease were investigated by questionnaire. Results In breast cancer group, 23.9% （28/117） of patients chose breast conserving therapy and 35.9%（42/117） of patients chose breast reconstruction, while the rates of breast conservation and reconstruction were 53.3% （106/199） and 63.8% （127/199） in benign breast disease group. In both groups, the higher rates of breast conservation and reconstruction were associated with better educational background (in breast cancer group: P=0.029， P=0.296; in benign breast disease group: P=0.081, P=0.019） and lower age (all Plt;0.05). Patients engaged in commerce showed higher rates of breast conservation and reconstruction （in breast cancer group: P=0.013, P=0.042； in benign breast disease group: P=0.032, P=0.044）. Age, occupation or educational background was not related with the choice of operative method of breast reconstruction （Pgt;0.05). Conclusions Patients with lower age, better educational background, and better job condition have ber desire of breast conservation and reconstruction. Breast surgeons should enhance communication with those patients about relevant information of breast conservation and reconstruction to make the more pertinent choice of therapeutic methods.
Objective To investigate the treatment and effectiveness of inferior polar comminuted fractures of patella and patellar tendon injury. Methods Between January 2003 and December 2008, 5 patients with inferior polar comminuted fractures of patella and patellar tendon injury were treated with Nitinol Patellar Concentrator and fascia lata allograft. There were 3 males and 2 females with a mean age of 33.7 years (range, 20-48 years). The interval of injury and operation was 1-5 days. Fracture degree: 3 cases had 3 fractures of patella, 2 cases had 4 fractures; patellar tendon injury degree: 3cases had horizontal rupture of middle l igament, 1 case had obl ique rupture of tibial tubercle, and 1 case had longitudinal partial rupture. Results Heal ing of incision by first intention was achieved in all patients, and no compl ication of infection or deep venous thrombosis occurred. The X-ray films at 2 days after surgery showed that patella recovered to normal height, which meaned ratio of patella height to patellar tendon length recovered to 1 : 1. Five cases were followed up 18 months on average (range, 10-22 months). At 3-12 weeks after surgery, the knee function of the injury side almost reached that of the normal side in 4 patients, and the knee range of motion was about 100° in 1 patient. The fracture heal ing time was 3-5 months. At 12-15 months after surgery, patella holder was taken out and no lost of reduction or refracture occurred. During follow-up, there was no fracture displacement, loosening and breakage of implant, or rerupture of patellar tendon. According to ZHANG Chuncai’ s criterion for knee joint function, the results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 1 cases, and fair in 1 case with an excellent and good rate of 80%. According to XU Shaoting’s criterion for knee joint function, the results were excellent in 2 cases, good in 2 cases, and fair in 1 case with an excellent and good rate of 80%. Conclusion Nitinol Patellar Concentrator and fascia lata allograft is a new method to treat inferior polar comminuted fractures of patella and patellar tendon injury, and it can ensure the knee joint stabil ity in early motion after surgery.