As a nonparametric method, the Kruskal-Wallis test is widely used to compare three or more independent groups when an ordinal or interval level of data is available, especially when the assumptions of analysis of variance (ANOVA) are not met. If the Kruskal-Wallis statistic is statistically significant, Nemenyi test is an alternative method for further pairwise multiple comparisons to locate the source of significance. Unfortunately, most popular statistical packages do not integrate the Nemenyi test, which is not easy to be calculated by hand. We described the theory and applications of the Kruskal-Wallis and Nemenyi tests, and presented a flexible SAS macro to implement the two tests. The SAS macro was demonstrated by two examples from our cohort study in occupational epidemiology. It provides a useful tool for SAS users to test the differences among three or more independent groups using a nonparametric method.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined transcatheter intraarterial chemoembolization with 350-560 μm gelatin sponge particles and lobaplatin (GSPs-TACE) and oral Chinese herb medication Huaier granules in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods This is a case-control,single-institution clinical trial.31 HCC patients receiving GSPs-TACE (group A) were matched with 31 patients receiving GSPs-TACE and Huaier granules (group B).Tumor response was evaluated by CECT using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors at 1 month after initial GSPs-TACE.The overall survival was calculated from the data of initial GSPs-TACE using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results The overall mean follow-up period was 28.7 (range 12-42) months.The overall 6-and 12-month survival rates in group A and group B were 90.3％ and 80.6％ vs 100％ and 93.5％,respectively.There was statistically significant difference in 12-month survival rates (x2 =5.213,P ＜0.05).Median survival time respectively was 17.1 and 20.6 months(x2 =0.745,P ＞0.05).The average TACE times were (4.1 ±7.3) and (2.9 ±8.7) respectively in group A and group B (P =0.01).Tumor objective response rate was statistically different in 6-and 12-month in two arms(x2 =5.945,6.384,P ＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in complications (respectively x2 =0.435,0.485,2.037,0.137,0.325,all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Huaier granules combined with transcatheter intraarterial chemoembolization with 350-560 μm gelatin sponge particles and carboplatin for HCC is safe and effectively prolongs patients' survival.

Aim To study the pharmacodynamics of antianxietic compound prescription capsule ( ACPC ) on acute stress in rats and the influence upon the ex-pression of ERK/CREB signal pathway and brain-de-rived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF) in the cerebral cor-tex and hippocampus of rats. Methods The elevated plus maze ( EPM ) test was applied to observe the effects of ACPC on acute stress rats administered 7 d low-, medium- and high-dose ( 0. 75 , 1. 5 , 3 g · kg-1 ) . The expression of ERK/CREB signal pathway and BDNF in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats were studied by using Western blot method. Re-sults In EPM, high-dose of ACPC increased signifi-cantly the rat open arm time ( OT%) ( P<0 . 05 ) and the percentage of open arm entries ( OE%) ( P <0. 05). In Western blot, the medium-dose of ACPC reduced significantly p-ERK1/2 expression in hippo-campus ( P <0. 05 ) , and high-dose group decreased significantly the expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the cortex and hippocampus of rats ( P <0. 05 ) . High-dose group increased significantly the expression of BDNF in the cortex and hippocampus of rats ( P<0. 05 , P<0. 01 ) . Conclusion ACPC has anti-anxie-ty effect in the model of EPM, and its mechanism may be related to the ERK/CREB signal pathway and in-creased BDNF expression.

The influence of exercise at high temperature on adult males' routine blood indexes and biochemical indexes and the expression of HSP72 in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) was studied in order to provide theoretical ground for health supervision of adults receiving exercise at high temperature. 180 adult males were selected and divided into exercise group and control group, in which the exercise group was subdivided into subgroup 1 and subgroup 2 receiving exercise at high temperature in the afternoon and in the morning, respectively. Peripheral venous blood was phlebotomized before and after the exercise to examine routine blood indexes and blood biochemical indexes. The expression levels of HSP72 in PBLs were detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that the routine blood indexes and biochemical indexes in each group were within the range of normal values of male adults. There was no significant difference between each exercise group and control group in indexes before exercise. After exercise, the expression levels of HSP72 in PBLs in exercise groups were higher than those before exercise, and HSP72 expression levels in subgroup 1 were obviously higher than those in subgroup 2 and control group. The contents of ALT, urea, Na+, Cl-, Ca2+ and K+ in subgroups 1 and 2 were lower than those in control group, but CK level was higher than in control group (P<0.05). The contents of Na+ and Cl- in subgroup 1 were relatively lower than those in subgroup 2 (P<0.05). It was concluded that while receiving exercise at high temperature, adult males' HSP72 levels in PBLs could be increased and the biochemical indexes changed. Attention should be paid to health supervision to avoid obvious body injuries at high temperature.
Blood Chemical Analysis/*methods ; Exercise/*physiology ; HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins/*blood ; HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Lymphocytes/*metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture on gastric motility, plasma motilin and serum gastrin in patients with diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) and evaluate its clinical efficacy.
Methods:A total of 100 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an acupuncture group (n=50) and a control group (n=50). Patients in the acupuncture group were treated by needling Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6), whereas patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of Domperidone. The clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared; and changes in gastric motility, plasma motilin and serum gastrin in both groups were observed before and after treatment.
Results:After treatment, the symptom scores, gastric motility and contents of plasma motilin and serum gastrin were significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05). There were between-group statistically significant differences in symptom scores, gastric motility and levels of plasma motilin and serum gastrin after treatment (allP<0.05). The total effective rate was 96% in the treatment group, versus 78% in the control group, showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.05).
Conclusion:Acupuncture is effective for DGP and can reduce the levels of plasma motilin and serum gastrin.

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy between flexible ureteroscope lithtripsy (FURL) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in treating the renal calculus.Methods From Jan.2012 to Oct.2013,120 male and 87 female patients with renal calculus were accepted FURL (n =108)or PCNL (n=99) in our hospital.In FURL group,108 cases were classified according to the diameter of the stone,including 33 patients with the diameter of renal stone more than 20mm (range 20-39 mm,mean 29.2±5.6 mm)and 75 patients with the diameter of renal stone less than 20 mm (range 13-19 mm,mean 16.8± 1.3 mm).In PCNL group,99 cases were also classified according to the diameter of the stone,including 51 patients with the diameter of renal stone more than 20 mm (range 20-45 mm,mean 30.4±6.6 mm)and 48 patients with the diameter of renal stone less than 20 mm (range 14-19 mm,mean 17.2±1.4mm).There were no significant differences between the groups FURL and PCNL in the stone size(P＞0.05).Demographic data,operative duration,postoperative hospital stay,complication rate,and stone-free rate were recorded and compared.Results The overall stone free rate in group FURL was significantly lower 80.6％ (87/108) than that in group PCNL 91.9％ (91/99) (P＜0.05).In those patients with the diameter of stones less than 20 mm,the stone free rate was 88.0％ (66/75) in group FURL vs 93.8％ (45/48) in group PCNL (P＞0.05).The operative time was 30-65 (mean 49.5±6.9) min and 30-65 (mean 46.9±7.2) min in FURL and PCNL group,respectively (P＞0.05).In those patients with the diameter of stones more than 20 mm,the stone free rate was 63.6％ (21/33) in group FURL,which was lower than that in group PCNL 90.2％ (46/51) (P＜0.05).The operative time was 60-115 min (85.0±16.3) min and 30-95 min (68.3± 16.7) min in FURL and PCNL group,respectively (P＜0.05).The overall complication rate was significantly lower in group FURL 2.8％ (3/108) compared to group PCNL 8.1％ (8/99) (P＜0.05).Postoperative hospitalization stay were 2-6 d (3.5±1.4) d and 3-9 d (5.8±1.9) d in FURL and PCNL group,respectively (P＜0.05).Conclusions Both PCNL and FURS are efficacy and safe surgical alteration for patients with renal calculus.As to the FURS,its merits were faster recovery,less invasiveness than those in PCNL.Therefore,it can be considered as the first-line treatment for renal calculus ＜20 mm.However,for renal calculus ≥20 mm stones,FURS is still effective.

The genus Xestospongia is one of the most widespread genera of sponges, containing abundant secondary metatolites with novel structures and potent bioactivities. The main structure types of secondary metatolites found in this genus are alkaloids, quinines, terpens, steroids, lipids, polyketones, etc. These metatolites exhibit a variety of bioactivities, such as cytotoxic, antibacterial and antiviral activities. This paper reviews the progress in the chemistry and pharmacological activities of the second metabolities from sponges of Xestospongia, especially for recent five years, with the aim for further research.

To investigate the health impacts of crystalline silica mixed dust and other potential occupational hazards on workers in ceramic factories, a cohort study of 4851 workers registered in the employment records in 3 ceramic factories in Jingdezhen city of China between 1972 and 1974 was identified. The cohort mortality was traced throughout 2003 with an accumulation of 128970.2 person-years, revealed 1542 deaths. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for the main causes of death by using Chinese national mortality rates as reference. The mortality from all causes in three ceramic factories was 12.0 per thousand and the cumulative mortality was 31.8%. Malignant neoplasm, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases were the first four illnesses that threaten workers' life, and they accounted for 73.2% of all deaths. The results of this study showed that the standardized mortality ratio for all subjects was 1.02, which is very close to that expected on the basis of the China national mortality rates. Statistically significant mortality excesses for respiratory disease (SMR=1.36), pneumoconiosis (SMR=37.34), infectious disease (SMR=5.70) and pulmonary tuberculosis (SMR=3.88) were observed. The mortality of 2938 dust-exposed workers was higher than that of 1913 non dust-exposed workers. Except for pneumoconiosis, the mortality from lung cancer, non-malignant respiratory diseases and pulmonary tuberculosis in dust-exposed workers were significantly increased as compared with that in non-exposed workers, and the relative risks (RRs) were 1.86 (1.16-2.99), 2.50 (1.84-3.40), 1.81 (1.34-2.45). The exposure-response relationships between cumulative dust exposure level and mortality from all causes, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and pulmonary tuberculosis were also identified. The findings indicated that silica mixed dust in ceramic factories has harmful impact on the workers' health and life span in ceramic factory.

Objective To investigate the current status of preoperative skin preparation in abdominal surgery in China,and put forward suggestions for improvement.Methods From April to May,2016,187 secondary and above hospitals in China were selected,questionnaires were used to investigate the methods for hair removal,skin disinfection on operative field,and application of surgical adhesive drape in abdominal surgery.Results A total of 187 hospitals in 14 provinces were investigated,of which 108 and 79 were tertiary and secondary hospitals respec-tively.87.70% of hospitals performed conventional preoperative hair removal in abdominal surgery,the percentage of conventional depilation in secondary hospitals was higher than tertiary hospitals(93.67% vs 83.33%,χ2 =4.520,P =0.033).85.98% of hospitals selected blade-shaving,7.93% and 23.78% applied chemical depilation and electric depilation respectively.Most hospitals (98.17%)performed skin preparation in the wards,mainly by ward nurses (98.17%),and conducted on the day of surgery (56.10%).86.63%,29.95%,and 3.74% of hospi-tals used iodophor,iodine plus alcohol,and chlorhexidine respectively for disinfecting skin on operative field. 92.51% of hospitals used skin incision/surgical adhesive drape (74.57% used selectively).Conclusion Most hos-pitals in China conventionally perform preoperative hair removal in abdominal surgery,and the primary method for depilation is blade-shaving,nearly half of the hospitals performed depilation on the day of surgery.Iodophor is the major skin antiseptic,surgical adhesive drape is widely used,but it is utilized in limited types of surgery.

Objective:To design a pediatric early warning score (PEWS) ruler and observe the effect of its application in the nursing of critically ill children hospitalized in neurology department.Methods:A total of 200 critically ill children admitted to Department of Neurology of Hunan Children′s Hospital from 2018 to 2019. 98 cases who were hospitalized from January to September 2019 were selected as the observation group, and 102 cases who were hospitalized from January to September 2018 were set as the control group. The control group received conventional care, while the observation group conducted PEWS ruler for nursing intervention on the basis of conventional care. The differences in hospital days, ICU transfer rate, and frequency of medical intervention between the two groups were compared.Results:The hospital days of the control group and observation group were 18.17 ± 6.33 and 13.33 ± 6.38 respectively, and the difference between the two groups was significant ( t=5.38, P<0.01). The ICU transfer rate was significantly different between the control group 17.6% (18/102) and observation group 8.2% (8/98) ( χ2=3.98, P<0.05). The reduction of increased intracranial pressure, cooling, calm, sedation and oxygen breathing in the control group were 6.86% (7/102), 13.73% (14/102), 6.86% (7/102), 7.84% (8/102), while the observation group were 17.35% (17/98), 27.55% (27/98), 24.49% (24/98), 28.57% (28/98), and the differences between the two groups were significant ( χ2 values were 5.20-14.55, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The application of PEWS ruler is helpful for nurses to recognize the progress of diseases of the critically ill children. Also, it can shorten the hospitalization days of these children, reduce the ICU transfer rate, as well as improve the nursing quality for them.