OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion on depressive states of stroke patients' spouses.

METHODSForty-four subjects who were stroke patients' spouses and according with inclusive criteria with mild or moderate depressive states were randomly divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group and a blank control group, 22 cases in each group. In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3), and suspended moxibustion was used at Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zhongwan (CV 12). The treatment was given twice a week for continuous 8 weeks. In the blank control group, neither acupuncture nor moxibustion treatment was given, and the patients were only treated with health and psychological guidance. Before treatment and after 8-week treatment, scores of self-rating depression scale (SDS) and numbers of insomnia severity grade were observed.

RESULTSIn the two groups, the scores of SDS were both reduced than those before treatment (both P<0.05), and the decrease in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was more obvious (P<0.05). After treatment, the number of insomnia severity grade in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was improved than that before treatment (P<0.001), and the improvement was evidently superior to that in the blank control group (P<0.05). The numbers of insomnia severity grade of the blank control group before and after treatment had no statistic significance (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture and moxibustion intervention plan has clinical treatment significance on the improvement of mild and moderate depressive states for the stroke patients' primary caregivers who are the patients' spouses.

Aged ; Depression ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Spouses ; psychology ; Stroke ; psychology

[Objective] To detect the expression of CD137L mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer tissues and discuss its possible clinical significance.[Methods] To detect the expression of CD137L mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry and to analyze the relationship between CD137L expression and clinical features.[Results] The mean level of CD137L mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues is significantly higher than that of adjacent noncancerous tissues (0.035 ± 0.013 vs.0.008 ± 0.005,P ＜ 0.05 ).CD137L mRNA expression in colorectal cancer show no significant differences among different age,sex,tumor location,Dukes classification,histological differentiation,and serum levels of CEA.We selected 8 colorectal cancer tissues and 3 adjacent tissues randomly to analyze the expression of CD137L by immunohistochemistry.CD137L was expressed on tumor cells in colorectal cancer tissues.The expression of CD137L was observed only in colorectal cancer tissues (6/8),but not in adjacent noncancerous tissues (0/3).[Conclusions] The expression of CD137L Mrna in colorectal cancer tissues is higher than that of adjacent noncancerous tissues and CD137 is expressed on tumor cell surface,it might be of biological importance for the progression of colorectal cancer.

Objective To investigate the CT imaging features of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP) and to improve the preoperative diagnostic accuracy. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the CT manifestations of 21 cases of SPTP confirmed by pathology and surgery. Results In the 21 cases of SPTP, 19 were young and middle-aged female (range: 9～29 years old). The lesions were located in the pancreatic head and neck in 13 cases, and in the pancreatic body and tail in 4 cases each. The maximum diameter of tumor was 3 ～ 15 cm (mean 7.5cm). CT showed a single, round-like, cystic and solid mass in the pancreas. Eighteen cases had a complete capsule, and 3 cases had poorly defined margin with surrounding tissue. 5 cases of tumor were encapsulated or appeared scattered calcification in the center, only 1 case had pancreatic duct dilation (about 5mm in diameter), and no patient had bile duct changes. After enhanced scanning, the tumor capsule and the solid part were mildly to moderately enhanced during arterial phase, and they were significantly enhanced during portal venous phase and equilibrium phase. The cystic part was not enhanced, but the capsule was significantly enhanced. Conclusions CT manifestations of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas have certain characteristics, and when combined with clinical and imaging manifestations, accurate diagnosis generally can be made.

Objective To analyze atypical 64-slice spiral CT imaging finings of pancreatic cancer and to improve the ability to identify CT manifestations of pancreatic cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the atypical 64-slice spiral CT imaging findings of 12 eases of pancreatic cancer confirmed by pathology after surgery. Results All the twelve cases were pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Among them, 7 cases were moderately differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma, 1 case was well-differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma, 1 case was mucinous adenocarcinoma, 3 cases were adenosquamous carcinoma. Among 8 cases with ductal adenocarcinoma, the lesions were located in the pancreatic head and (or) uncinate process in 7 cases, and in the pancreatic neck of 1 case. Tumors were expressed as isodense or low-density or cysticsolid lesions, the masses showed no enhancement in the enhanced scanning phase. Tumors were clearly exogenous or exogenous tendencies in 5 cases. Five cases had no distal pancreatic duct dilation, 2 patients had common bile duct and intrahepatic biliary dilation, and only 1 patient had atrophy of distal pancreas. There was one case of mucinous carcinoma, plain CT scan showed a cystic lesion in head of pancreas about 5cm in diameter, the solid part below the cystic lesion was slightly enhamced in the enhanced scanning phase and the body and tail pancreatic duct was moderately dilated (7 mm). There was no common bile duct and adjacent blood vessels invasion. Among 3 cases of adenosquamous carcinoma, lesions were located in the pancreatic head of 2 cases and in pancreatic body of 1 case. The maximal diameter of mass ranged 3.0 cm ～ 4.5 cm.Cystic necrotic area was observed within the lesions in 3 cases in enhanced pancreatic parenchymal phase of CT scan. Distal pancreatic duct were mildly dilated (4 ～ 5 mm) in 3 cases. There was no common bile duct and intrahepatic bile duct dilation. Conclusions Pancreatic cancer may show atypical CT imaging findings and great cautions are needed for differential diagnosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of advanced practice nurse–guided home-based rehabilitation exercise program (HREPro) among patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke. Methods: This randomized controlled study recruited 121 patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke. Intervention (n = 59) and control (n = 62) groups underwent 12-month HREPro and conventional rehabilitation, respectively, after discharge. The Fugl–Meyer assessment of spasticity measurement, modified Ashworth scale of motor function, 10-Meter Walk Test of walking ability, and Barthel index of activities of daily living (ADL) were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Results: Significant differences were found in spasticity degree, motor function, walking ability, and ADL at 6 and 12 months after discharge between the control and intervention groups. Lower limb spasticity and ADL in the intervention group were significantly improved. Conclusion HREPro is effective for rehabilitation of patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke and has favorable home application.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of advanced practice nurse–guided home-based rehabilitation exercise program (HREPro) among patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke. Methods: This randomized controlled study recruited 121 patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke. Intervention (n = 59) and control (n = 62) groups underwent 12-month HREPro and conventional rehabilitation, respectively, after discharge. The Fugl–Meyer assessment of spasticity measurement, modified Ashworth scale of motor function, 10-Meter Walk Test of walking ability, and Barthel index of activities of daily living (ADL) were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Results: Significant differences were found in spasticity degree, motor function, walking ability, and ADL at 6 and 12 months after discharge between the control and intervention groups. Lower limb spasticity and ADL in the intervention group were significantly improved. Conclusion HREPro is effective for rehabilitation of patients with lower limb spasticity post-stroke and has favorable home application.

The coordination and collaboration of many links are required to achieve the successful development of a high-quality clinical randomized controlled trial, in which, the compliance of the researchers affects the ultimate results and quality of the study since it is responsible for the safety and benefits of subjects in the trials and study quality. Focusing on the researchers' compliance, it is believed that the improvements in the researchers' compliance are very significant in the implementation of study scheme. At present, commonly, the researchers are of the low compliance, manifest as failure to obey the study scheme (such as inclusive criteria, enrollment sequence), failure to obey the rules of operation and data collection, failure to store the original documents but to modify the data, failure to report timely adverse events, etc. In view of clinical research monitors, the reasons on the low compliance are analyzed and the solutions are proposed.