Objective To quantify the validity and reliability of the Hong Kong version of the functional test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (FTHUE-HK).Methods Forty-two stroke patients were studied.Patients were assessed twice within one week using the FTHUE-HK,the upper extremity component of Fugl-Meyer movement assessment (FMA) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).The test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability of the FTHUE-HK were thus quantified.The FTHUE-HK's validity was evaluated according to the correlation between the FTHUE-HK,FMA and MBI results.Results Significant correlations between the three assessments were demonstrated(P≤0.01).The intra-and inter-class correlation coefficients were 0.983 and 0.985 respectively.Conclusion The FTHUE-HK is a simple and useful assessment of the upper extremity function of stroke patients with good validity and reliability.

Objective To determine the influence factors for limb salvage of bone fracture patients with hyperpotassemia caused by Wenchuan earthquake,to discuss the clinical symptom and to improve the clinical treatment. Methods The clinical symptom, drug therapy, limb incision decompression, hemodialysis, and limb salvage of hyperpotassemia caused by earthquake were analyzed by logistic regression. Results All the 37 patients received drug therapy: 9 patients received incision and decompression singlely,8 received hemodialysis singlely,and the other 20 received decompression and hemodialysis simultaneously. The concentration of potassium decreased from (6.25 ± 0.91) mmol/L to (4.47±0.65) mmol/L,with significant difference (P＜0.05).Five patients with Gustilo III grade open injury received amputation at the concentration of potassium of (6.13±(0.78)) mmol/L, while the concentration of potassium for the other 32 patients was (6.25±0.31) (mmol/L). There was no significant difference between them(P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis found the time of compression, the time before incision and decompression, and the time before hemodialysis were the main factors to affect limb salvage. The OR value of these factors was 4.394, 3.793 and 5.432;while the P value was 0.013, 0.047, and 0.015, respectively. Conclusion Decreasing the time of compression, appropriate incision and decompression, and hemodialysis help improve the result of limb salvage in hyperpotassemia patients with bone fracture caused by earthquake.

The study is to develop a method to determine 3 batches leaves of Nauclea officinalis and stems of N. officinalis by HPLC. The differences between strictosamide contents and fingerprints was compared, then chromatographic peak of fingerprints was validated with the assistance of LC-MS. The strictosamide contents in stems of N. officinalis were higher than leaves of N. officinalis. The main chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis and stems of N. officinalis were alkaloid which revealed by LC-MS. There are 7 chemical compositions were same between them, but the chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis is more than stems of N. officinalis. This provides a scientific basis for the development of the potential medicinal value of leaves of N. officinalis and the sustainable utilization of N. officinalis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rubiaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

AIM: To test the ability of multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) in the detecting of glaucoma by comparing the mfVEP recorded from normal subjects and glaucoma patients.METHODS: The mfVEP of 32 normal eyes (n =21) and of 58 eyes (n =37) with primary glaucoma were recorded with the Vision Monitor electrophysical apparatus by the second kernel analysis and to determine the correlation of the topographic location between them.RESULTS: There were significant variability (the coefficient of variation was 43.05%) in mfVEP RMS amplitude in the normal subjects; The RMS amplitude of eyes with glaucoma were smaller than that of the normal eyes and significantly statistical difference were found in the relatively center (namely the 0° -10° ring zone) and in superior nasal quadrant (P＜0.05) while there were no significantly statistical differences of the latency time between them.CONCLUSION: The normal subjects have large individual variability of mfVEP responses. The RMS amplitude of the mfVEP of glaucomatous eyes descends, especially in center zone and superior nasal quadrant.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) play a key role in some physiological and pathological progresses. The latest studies indicate that CGRP might involve in some disease progress and has a close relation with wound healing. It is significant to further investigate and then apply it to clinical diagnosis and therapy as well as forensic pathology.
Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/physiology* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/physiology* ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of spanishneedles leaves on middle and severe xerophthalmia of menopausal females.

METHODThis study was a prospective random controlled trial. Ninty-six menopausal females diagnosed with xerophthalmnia (aged from 40 to 50) were randomly divided into in two groups: group A' the spanishneedles leaves group (n=48) and group B' the control group (n=48). Both groups were treated with Forte eye drops. All patients were detected at 3, 7, 28 h before and after treatment to evaluate subjective symptoms, OSDI and four tear film indicators. Variance analysis and differential analysis on sample average or median were made on both groups before and after treatment.

RESULTThere were no significant difference in symptom and diction indicators between both groups before treatment. For 28 d after treatment, among middle and severe xerophthalmia samples of the spanishneedles leaves group, the mean differences showed significant improvement compared with that before treatment , OSDI and four tear film indicators also showed improvement to varying degrees. For 28 d after treatment, among middle and severe xerophthalmia samples of the vitamin C group, the mean differences showed no significant improvement compared with that before treatment , OSDI and four tear film indicators also showed no remarkable improvement. There were significant differences in OSDI, BUT, SIT, height of tear meniscus and FL between both groups.

CONCLUSIONSpanishneedles leaves can effectively improve symposiums and signs of middle and severe xerophthalmia among menopausal females and thus showing clinical significance to some extent.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; Treatment Outcome ; Xerophthalmia ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection for pheochromocytoma.

METHODSThe clinical data of 107 cases of pheochromocytoma in PUMCH from 2003 to 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 58 males and 49 females with an age range from 8 to 77 years (mean 44 years) in this cohort. One hundred and two cases were intra-adrenal and 5 extra-adrenal. Of the 102 intra-adrenal tumors, 43 tumors were located in left adrenal, 51 in right adrenal and 8 in both sides. All of the 5 extra-adrenal tumors were at para-abdominal aorta. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection was performed for the 107 cases. This period was separated to 3 stages based on the degrees of the practical ability for retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection, such as tentative and exploratory stage, accumulative stage, and mature stage.

RESULTSAt tentative and exploratory stage from June 2003 to December 2003, 10 cases underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery, of which 3 cases were converted to open surgery. The mean diameter was 4.2 cm (range in diameter from 2.5 cm to 6.0 cm). The mean operation time was 105 min (range from 60 min to 230 min). The mean volume of blood loss during operation was 620 ml (range from 150 ml to 1800 ml). At accumulative stage from January 2004 to December 2006, 66 cases underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery with none converted to open surgery. The mean diameter was 5.7 cm (range in diameter from 2.1 cm to 8.7 cm), and the diameter was above 6.0 cm in 19 cases. The mean operation time was 95 min (range from 40 min to 210 min). The mean volume of blood loss during operation was 350 ml (range from 50 ml to 1800 ml). At mature stage from January 2007 to June 2008, 31 cases, including 5 extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery. The mean diameter was 6.5 (range in diameter from 1.5 cm to 12.3 cm). The mean operation time was 75 min (range from 40 min to 160 min). The mean volume of blood loss during operation was 180 ml (range from 50 ml to 800 ml). No peri-operative death occurred. Follow up period was ranging from 1 to 62 months (the mean was 34 months), and 7 failed to be followed up, 3 cases recurred. And there was no distant metastases and death case.

CONCLUSIONSRetroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma is feasible and safe. This procedure will be more and more performed as the advancement of the skill and accumulation of experience. The dimension, recurrence and location of tumor are not the absolute contraindication of retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pheochromocytoma ; surgery ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDInhibition of tumor growth by endostatin has been shown to be an effective strategy in cancer therapy in mice. However, its widespread application has been hampered by difficulties in a large-scale production of the recombinant endostatin protein, rapid loss bioactivity of the protein, and the cumbersome daily administration. These limitations could be resolved by in vivo delivery and expression of the endostatin gene. In this study, we observed the effect and advantage of endostatin gene therapy mediated by a recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad/hEndo) on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 xenografted tumors, comparison with recombinant endostatin protein.

METHODSHepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells were inoculated subcutaneously in the flank of Balb/c nude mice. Nine days after tumor cell inoculation, animals were given a cycle of four courses of intra-tumoral injections of Ad/hEndo of 5 x 10(8) pfu (low-dose group) and 1 x 10(9) pfu (high-dose group) at intervals of six days, respectively. Recombinant human endostatin protein (rhEndo) was administrated daily subcutaneously at a dose of 10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) at a site nearby the tumor for ten days. The expression of endostatin mRNA in tumor tissue was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after Ad/hEndo injection. Dynamic changes of concentration of endostatin protein in tumor tissue were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSAfter 4 courses of treatment, the tumor growth rates of high-dose treated group with 1 x 10(9) pfu of Ad/hEndo were inhibited by 42.26% compared with the Ad/LacZ control group (P = 0.001) and by 46.26% compared with the NIH buffer control group (P = 0.003), respectively. However, in this study, Ad/hEndo at low dose of 5 x 10(8) pfu failed to demonstrate significant inhibition of tumor growth, compared with control groups. After daily administration of recombinant human endostatin protein (rhEndo) for 9 days, the ratio of T/C (rhEndo group versus PBS group) was less than 47%. However, two days after rhEndo treatment ceased, the ratio of T/C was more than 50%. The peak of expression of endostatin mRNA in tumor tissue was at 2 or 3 days after administration intratumorally with Ad/hEndo of 1 x 10(9) pfu and gradually dropped undetectable by day 7. Dynamic analysis of endostatin concentration in tumor tissue showed that the highest level of mRNA is up at the third day after injection, and dropped to basal level three weeks later.

CONCLUSIONSEndostatin gene therapy mediated by a recombinant adenoviral vector had significantly inhibited the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 xenografted tumors at a high dose of 1 x 10(9) pfu compared with other groups. The analysis of dynamic expression of endostatin in vivo indicated that Ad/hEndo had acquired a high-level, relatively long-term expression in vivo and bioactivity capability.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endostatins ; analysis ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Transplantation, Heterologous

OBJECTIVETo assess the response in THP-1 treated with Rv3671c protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis).

METHODSThe gene encoding Rv3671c protein of M.tuberculosis was cloned into pET-28a vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli. The Rv3671c was purified with Ni-NTA affinity and ion exchange chromatography. The detection of protein concentration was by Lowry method.THP-1 cell was stimulated with Rv3671c protein and cells were analyzed by Hochest staining under fluorescence microscopy to assay cell death (apoptosis and necrosis). TNF-α and IL-1β were detected by ELISA at each stimulating time.

RESULTSThe Rv3671c protein of M.tuberculosis was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. The purity of recombinant Rv3671c protein was 95%, and the protein concentration was up to 0.4 mg/ml. The nucleus of THP-1 was isolated and necrosis-like under fluorescence when cells were stimulated by Rv3671c protein. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in supernatant were 19 000 and 16 500 pg/ml respectively, and were significantly higher than control cells with the levels of 2100 and 3800 pg/ml separately.

CONCLUSIONThe necrosis of THP-1 cells could be stimulated by Rv3671c protein of M.tuberculosis and it was probably associated with high cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β levels.

Bacterial Proteins ; pharmacology ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the differentiation, formation and function of the dendritic cell (DC) in peripheral blood of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect the number of DC in peripheral blood of 81 patients with OSCC, and ELISA applied to test serum VEGF concentration the OSCC patients, and immunohistochemistry used to observe the expression of VEGF in primary foei of 57 patients with OSCC.DC from CD-14 peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured with VEGF165 in vitro to investigate the cytokine's effect on DC.Results In comparison with controls[(325.70±117.54) ng/L], the level of serum VEGF [(764.33±263.64) ng/L] was significantly increased (P < 0.01) and the DC numbers was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in patients with OSCC.There was a negative correlation between serum VEGF concentration and the level of DC (P < 0.01).The expression of VEGF in primary focus was positively correlated with serum VEGF concentration, but was negatively correlated with the level of peripheral blood DC (P <0.01).DC cultured in vitro with VEGF165 decreased the expression of CD-1a, CD-40,CD-80, CD-86, CD-83, HLA-DR, and revealed a lower ability of stimulating T lymphocyte proliferation but a higher ability of uptake, compared to controls.Conclusions The overexpressed VEGF in patients with OSCC might be one of the important reasons for blocking the differentiation and maturation of DC.