【Abstract】 Objective To explore the clinical value of vibration response imaging ( VRI) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) . Methods 255 COPD patients and 78 healthy volunteers were enrolled and lung function test and VRI examination were performed. The parameters of VRI included dynamic image grades, vibration energy graph grades, vibration value, quantitative lung data ( QLD) of right lung, and crack counts. Results The VRI parameters of the COPD group were as follows, ie.dynamic image grades of 3. 07 ±1. 34, graph grades of 7. 81 ±3. 27, vibration value of 1. 57 ±0. 46, QLD of( 49. 5 ±12. 6) % , crack counts of 5. 27 ±7. 74. The VRI parameters of the control group were as follows, ie.dynamic image grades of 1. 14 ±1. 00, graph grades of 2. 24 ±1. 27, vibration value of 1. 87 ±0. 40, QLD of( 44. 0 ±7. 7) % , crack counts of 0. 21 ±0. 88. There were significant differences in all parameters between the two groups ( all P lt;0. 05) . There was a linear relationship between VRI and FEV1% pred ( r = 0. 548,P lt;0. 01) . The model of the linear regression was Y =80. 833 - 2. 735X1 - 5. 406X2 ( Y: FEV1% pred, X1 :VRI graph grades, X2 : dynamic image grades) . Conclusion VRI is a promising method to diagnose and assess the severity of COPD.
Objective To investigate the serum level of surfactant protein D ( SP-D) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) and its clinical significance. Methods Serumlevels of SP-D in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD ( n = 29) , stable COPD ( n = 26) , and control subjects ( n = 19 ) were measured by ELISA. Multiple regression modeling was performed to determine the independent relationship between SP-D and lung function variables. Results The serum SP-D levels were significantly increased in the patients who experienced an acute exacerbation [ ( 70. 6 ±20. 7) ng/mL] compared with the patients with stable COPD and the control subjects [ ( 47. 9 ±13. 3) ng/mL and ( 31. 2 ±11. 4) ng/mL] ( both P lt; 0. 01) . The serum SP-D levels in the patients with stable COPD increased significantly than the control subjects ( P lt; 0. 01) . Smoking index and staging of COPD were positively related to SP-D level. Serum SP-D levels were also found to be inversely related to FEV1% pred in stable COPD. Conclusion Serum SP-D may be a potential diagnostic and staging biomarker for COPD.
Objective To compare the cost-effectiveness of Baofukang and Xinfuning in the treatment of HPV infection, and to provide references for reasonable clinical prescription, pricing drugs and the cognition product value. Methods Decision tree model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of Baofukang and Xinfuning from the perspective of the cost payer. In the model, the effectiveness was mainly measured by the clearance rate of HPV based on meta-analysis. The cost data was mainly based on the published price data from the websites of the Development and Reform Commission, Bidding Center, the Health Department and so on. The single factor sensitivity analysis was performed based on the change of effectiveness and price. Results The effective rate of Baofukang treatment for 48 days was 61.89%, and the effective rate for 42 days was 63.05%, while Xinfuning’s effective rate for 30 days was 46.58%. The total cost were 668.61 yuan, 630.09 yuan and 850.83 yuan, respectively. Baofukang users had lower costs yet higher clearance rates of HPV compared to Xinfuning at different treatment time. In sensitivity analysis, the evaluation results would not been affected. Conclusion The current study suggests that Baofukang is more cost-effective than Xinfuning in the treatment of HPV infection.
Objective To investigate the protective effects of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 ( rhIGF-1) on apoptosis of diaphragm in rats with COPD and its impact on pulmonary function. Methods Forty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, ie. a normal control group, a model group, and an IGF-1 intervention group, with 15 rats in each group. The rats in the model group and IGF-1 group were exposed to 5% smoke ( 30 min perday, lasting 28 days) in a sealed box, and 200 μg lipopolysaccharide was injected intratracheally on the 1st and 14th day. The rats in the IGF-1 group were given rhIGF-1 ( 60 μg /100 g) additionally by subcutaneous injection once a day, lasting 28 days. On the 1st, 14th, 28th day, 5 rats from each group were sacrificed. The weight, rate of apoptosis, Fas gene and Fas protein expression of isolated diaphragms were detected. The pulmonary function was measured on the 28th day before sacrificed. Results The mass of diaphragms, minute ventilation ( VE) , peak expiratory flow ( PEF) , inspiratory capacity ( IC) , forced expiratory volume in 0. 3 second ( FEV0. 3) of themodel groupand IGF-1 group were all decreased compared with the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . The mass of diaphragms, VE, IC of the IGF-1 group were higher than those of the model group ( P lt;0. 05) , and the differences of PEF and FEV0. 3 were not significant ( P gt; 0. 05) . On the 14th, 28th day, rate of apoptosis, Fas gene and protein expressions in the IGF-1 group were lower than those in the model group, and still higher than those in the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusions Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis way is involved in the diaphragm apoptosis. rhIGF-1 may reduce the apoptosis of the diaphragmand improve the VE and IC of rats with COPD by intervening Fas/FasL pathway.
Objective To investigate the changes of steps walks daily in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) before and after the initiation of nasal continuous positive airway pressure ( nCPAP) ventilation. Methods 62 patients diagnosed by polysomnogaphy ( PSG) in the sleep respiratory disease center of Nanjing FirstHospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were recruited as the OSAHS group, and divided into mild,moderate, and severe subgroups according to apnea-hypopnea index ( AHI) .28 subjects without OSAHS were recruited as the control group. All the subjects were evaluated by Epworth Sleepiness Scale ( ESS) and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire ( FOSQ) . Steps walked daily were measured by electronic pedometer.10 patients with moderate and severe OSAHS were treated with nCPAP. Results Compared with the control group and the mild OSAHS patients, ESS scores were significantly higher while FOSQ scores and steps walked daily were significantly lower in the moderate and severe OSAHS patients ( P lt; 0. 05) . In the OSAHS patients, steps walked daily were correlated positively with FOSQ scores but negatively with BMI, ESS scores, AHI, oxygen desaturation index ( ODI) and saturation impair time below 90% ( SIT90) ( P lt; 0.05) . After one month of nCPAP therapy, ESS scores were significantly decreased, FOSQ scores and steps walked daily were significantly increased (Plt;0.05) . Conclusions Increased OSAHS severity is associated with decreased steps walked daily which is an objective index of routine physical activity. Untreated OSAHS may negatively impact the patients’ability to have an active lifestyle. nCPAP therapy can significantly improve steps walks daily of patients with OSAHS.
Objective To evaluate the value of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) metabolism imaging in evaluating the response of patients with non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) in stable diseaseafter chemotherapy. Methods 28 patients with NSCLC in stable disease after chemotherapy admitted between September 2010 to September 2012 were retrospectively investigated. The reduction ratio of targetto-nontarget ratio ( T/N) before and after chemotherapy was calculated. The patients were followed up 3 to 12 months to measure progression-free survival ( PFS) . The correlation between the reduction ratio of T/N and PFS was analyzed. The patients were divided into a reduction group and a non-reduction group according to the difference of the reduction ratio of T/N and was compared the difference of the PFS.Results The reduction ratio of T/N had positive correlation with PFS( Pearson r = 0. 668, P lt; 0. 01) . The PFS of the reduction group was longer than that in the non-reduction group ( 8. 0 ±2. 5 months vs. 5. 3 ±1. 2 months,P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions The reduction ratio of T/N is positively correlated with PFS in NSCLC patients in stable disease after chemotherapy. It is possible to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment according to the reduction ratio of T/N.
Objective To explore the incidence, age distribution and change tendency of female breast cancer in urban Shenyang from 2000 to 2009. Methods The incidence data of female breast cancer recorded in Shenyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2000 to 2009 were collected, and the incidence and standardized incidence of breast cancer were analyzed by using SPSS 16.0 software. The incidence trend was analyzed by means of χ2 trend test and linear regression. Results The annual average crude incidence rate of female breast cancer in urban Shenyang from 2000 to 2009 was 46.03/100 000, while the annual average standardized incidence rate was 35.63/100 000, increased by 160.41% and 109.39% respectively during past 10 years, and the annual average increase was 11.22% and 8.56%, respectively. Both crude incidence rate and standardized incidence rate were in increasing trends with statistical significance (Plt;0.001). The crude incidence rate of the female at age of 50-64 showed a perpendicular rise trend, increased by 271.97%, and the annual average increase was 15.72%. The χ2 trend test and linear regression showed a significant difference (χ2=276.743, P=0.000; y= –22 355.560+11.205x, P=0.000). Conclusion The incidence of female breast cancer in urban Shenyang tends to rise with a younger-aged trend, and the female at age of 50-64 are commonly affected.
The application of economic tools to evaluate the cost and health benefits and screen out more cost-effective drugs and technologies is an important measure to improve efficiency of medical resource allocation in China. Given the inherent differences between strict clinical trials and clinical routine practice, using trial-based economic evaluations to guide relevant medical decisions may lead to a certain risk of value deviation. Recent development of real-world data provides opportunities to assess the cost-effectiveness of drugs under the practical utilization, and has gradually become a new research hotspot. However, the complexity of the actual clinical environment also puts higher demands on researchers and decision makers to construct, understand and apply real-world evidence. In order to further prompt the normalization of economic evaluation based on real-world data and promote the scientific application of real-world evidence in medical and health decision-making, this project aims at the crucial issues including scope, research design and quality evaluation, to clarify the key considerations on the using of real-world evidence in medical decision-making. Combined with the international guidelines, the latest advancement of relevant research areas and the advice and opinions from multidisciplinary experts, we aim to provide technical references and guidance for researchers and decision makers, and to strengthen the evidence base of management policies.