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Multivessel coronary disease or peripheral arterial disease is the clinical clue to diagnosis of renal artery stenosis (RAS). RAS is considered equivalent to coronary artery disease in terms of cardiovascular risk. In this study, we evaluated the incidence of RAS in the patients who were proposed to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Diagnostic evaluations of coronary arteriography and renal artery angiography were performed during the same procedure; the patients who were proposed for CABG in terms of CAD anatomy and clinical manifestation were enrolled. RAS was evaluated and a diameter stenosis of ≥50% was considered as significant RAS; significant RAS patients were divided into five groups. The five groups of RAS were as follows: (1) unilateral RAS ≥50-70%, (2) unilateral RAS ≥70%, (3) bilateral RAS ≥50-70%, (4) one-renal-artery stenosis ≥50-70%, contralateral RAS ≥70%, and (5) bilateral renal artery stenosis ≥70%. A total of 151 patients were enrolled, and RAS (≥50% stenosis in either or both renal arteries) was identified in 47.02% (71/151) patients. Unilateral RAS ≥50-70% was identified in 16.6% (25/151) patients, unilateral RAS ≥70% in 4.6% (7/151) patients, bilateral RAS ≥50-70% in 7.9% (12/151) patients, one-renal-artery stenosis ≥50-70% and contralateral RAS ≥70% in 7.9% (12/151) patients, and bilateral RAS ≥70% was in 9.9%(15/151) patients. The incidence of RAS was 29.03% (18/62) in patients aged ≤60 years, >60% (36/60) in patients aged >60 and ≤70 years, and 58.62% (17/29) in patients aged >70 years. The incidence of RAS was significantly higher in patients aged >60 - ≤70, and >70 years than patients aged ≤60 years (P = 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively). There was a trend that the incidence of RAS in patients with hypertension [HTN, 50.40% (64/127)] was higher than those without HTN (29.17%, 7/24), with P = 0.056. The incidence of RAS was 47.02% in patients who were proposed for CABG; bilateral RAS of ≥70% was 9.9%. Older age and HTN were associated with RAS in patients who were referred for CABG. This study indicates that the incidence of RAS was high in the patients referred for CABG, and the renal function should be taken care of. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This article aims to quantify the risk factors associated with the human cases of HSN1 avian influenza in South-east Asian countries and China; a dangerous region for this disease that has the potential for a pandemic outbreak. Study design: A statistical model with time and spatial dimensions was built to capture the international spread patterns of this disease. Methods: The grid search method was used to fit the model with 2004-2006 data. The grid search approach is a simple procedure that allows the fit of any function to data. Results: This study found that: (1) when the number of domestic HSN1 human cases increases by one person in a certain time period, the chance that the country will have a human case in the next period increases by 22.10%; (2) when the number of human cases in a neighbouring country increases by one person in a certain time period, the chance that the country will have a human case in the next period increases by 1.62%; (3) when the number of avian cases in a neighbouring country increases by one, the chance that the country will have a human case increases by 0.02%; (4) as the human population increases by one unit, the chance that the country will have a human case increases by 0.10%; (5) when the quantity of imported poultry increases by 1000 metric tons, the chance that the country will have a human case increases by 0.03%; (6) when the outbreak of the disease among domestic birds increases by one, the chance that the country will have a human case increases by 0.19%; and finally (7) when the number of birds destroyed increases by 1000, the chance that the country will have a human case decreases by 0.30%. Conclusions: These findings shed new light on the spatiotemporal characteristics of the epidemic, and thus need to be taken into consideration in interdisciplinary and scientific discussion of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a homemade electrogastrography (EGG) system, we studied the characteristics of the myoelectrical rhythm in Chinese patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Based on short-term Fourier transformation, recorded slow waves could be automatically analyzed to obtain the following parameters: dominant frequency/power, percent of normal frequency (2-4 cpm), power ratio, etc. EGG parameters, Helicobacter pylori status, histological examination of gastric mucosa, and dyspeptic symptoms were recorded in 27 NUD patients. Compared to 32 healthy controls, the Chinese NUD patients had abnormal postprandial EGG parameters including a lower percentage of regular 2-4 cpm slow waves (70.10 +/- 2.97% vs 79.08 +/- 2.95%, P < 0.05), a lower level of increment of dominant power (0.62, +/- 0.91 vs 3.76 +/- 0.58 dB, P < 0.05), lower power ratio (1.42 +/- 0.28 vs 2.79 +/- 0.39, P < 0.05) and a higher instability coefficient (0.36 +/- 0.03 vs 0.26 +/- 0.03, P < 0.05). However, Helicobacter pylori infection and its associated gastritis did not influence any EGG parameters in NUD patients. Six main dyspeptic symptoms and total symptom score had no correlation with any EGG parameters. In conclusion, Chinese NUD patients may have abnormal postprandial stomach myoelectrical activity, but these EGG abnormalities are not a direct result of Helicobacter pylori infection and its related gastritis and do not contribution to the dyspeptic symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients in Western countries usually manifest autonomic nerve dysfunctions and abnormal psychological behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess whether Oriental IBS patients with predominant bowel symptoms also exhibited similar abnormalities. We enrolled 40 IBS patients from the outpatient clinic and 20 controls with normal daily bowel habit for study. The IBS patients were further divided according to their predominant bowel habit: 20 were constipation-predominant and 20 were diarrhea-predominant. Sympathetic function was evaluated by sympathetic skin response (SSR) while vagal cholinergic function was determined by measuring R-R interval variation (RRIV) in electrocardiography during rest and deep breathing. Psychological parameters were assessed by scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-90). IBS patients, despite their bowel habit, showed normal SSR response. RRIV during deep breathing was significantly lower in constipation-predominant IBS patients than in controls or diarrhea-predominant IBS patients (16.5+/-3.1% vs 20.5+/-4.8% and 21.5+/-4.6%, P < 0.001). IBS patients also exhibited abnormal MMPI measuring scores on depression, hysteria, paranoia, and masculinity/femininity scales. In addition, they also had more severe psychological distress in the items of HSCL-90 measurement. In conclusion, vagal dysfunction characterizes Oriental constipation-predominant IBS patients seeking medical help. Abnormal psychoneurotic profiles also exist in these IBS patients, irrespective of their bowel habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]