OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of a back propagation (BP) network in determining the risk factors of uterine myomas.

METHODSUsing stratified randomized sampling method, 1260 women were surveyed by questionnaire. 1:2 matched case-control study was conducted in 113 cases of uterine myomas. Neural network tools box of Software MATLAB 6.5 was used to train and simulate BP artificial network. The mean impact value (MIV) for each input variables was analyzed, and was compared with multiple logistic regression analysis and log-linear model for interaction between factors.

RESULTSBP artificial neural analysis showed that the leading risk factors for uterine myomas were delayed menstruation, family history of uterine myomas, cervicitis, menstrual disorder, induced abortion, pelvic inflammatory, oral contraceptive medication, and elytritis, with mean impact value -0.0405, 0.0361, 0.0162, 0.0143, 0.0135, 0.0117, 0.0094, 0.0087, respectively. Both BP artificial neural and logistic regression analysis showed that the sequence of leading risk factors were similar in the whole, but there were some differences observed, induced abortion was proved to be an important cooperation variable through logline model analysis respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompared to the conventional statistics method, BP artificial neural network could deal with the interaction between covariables preferably, thus provided a powerful method to risk factor analysis.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Uterine Neoplasms ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (VSD) in children following transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

METHODSFrom September 2002 to December 2005, eighty-nine children (47 males and 42 females) with perimembranous (VSD) underwent an attempt of transcatheter interventional occlusion. Among the 89 children, one of them was diagnosed with patent ductus arterious (PDA) and six with VSD leakage after the surgical repair (three with leakage after the surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot and three with leakage after the surgical repair of VSD). The mean age of patients was (6.4 +/- 3.9) years (ranged from 1 to 18 years). The mean body weight of patients was (22 +/- 11 )kg (ranged from 9 to 78 kg). The mean diameter of VSD measured by TTE was (4.3 +/- 1.5) mm(ranged from 2 to 8.5mm). The path of artery to vein was established following X-rays and TTE. Occluder was released through the right heart system. All patients were followed up in 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after procedure of TTE, X-ray and electrocardiography.

RESULTThe devices were deployed successfully in 85 patients, the rate of success was 95.5%. No death occurred during and after the procedure. There was trivial residual shunt in 12 patients immediately after the closure by TTE and angiography. Twenty-four hours later, only 3 patients had trivial residual and no shunt existed after 6 months follow-up. Convulsion occurred in 1 case due to serious cardiac arrhythmias. Hemolysis was found in 2 cases. Other complications included 2 cases of complete left bundle branch block, 1 cases of left anterior fascicular block and 3 cases of incomplete right bundle branch block. They recovered after 3 to 7 days of corticosteroid treatment. After 1 to 36 months (mean 9 months) follow-up, none of occluders displacement occurred and no valve was involved.

CONCLUSIONTranscatheter closure of membranous VSD using occluder would be safe and effective for children, and the results of short-term was satisfied. Transcatheter closure of VSD following TTE is a feasible method. TTE has the potential benefit of avoiding general anesthesia and esophageal intubation in children.

Adolescent ; Cardiac Catheterization ; methods ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo assess the relationship between the XRCC1 polymorphism and susceptibility to lung cancer in non-smoking female on the basis of a hospital-based case-control study.

METHODSGenotypes were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 50 patients with lung cancer and 50 controls. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression model to study the relationship between different genotypes and risk of lung cancer in non-smoking women. Furthermore, a multiplicative interaction between exposure to cooking oil smoke and the variant XRCC1 399Gln allele on risk of lung adenocarcinoma was evaluated.

RESULTSIndividuals carrying Gln/Gln genotype were at an increased risk to suffer from lung adenocarcinoma as compared with those with the Arg/Arg genotype (OR: 14.12; 95% CI: 2.14 approximately 92.95, adjusted for age and cooking oil smoke). The OR of lung adenocarcinoma for the variant XRCC1 399Gln allele with exposure to cooking oil smoke was 6.29 (95% CI 1.99 approximately 19.85).

CONCLUSIONThe above described findings indicate that Arg 399Gln polymorphism in the XRCC1 is associated with risk of lung adenocarcinoma but not with risk of squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung in non-smoking women.

Adenocarcinoma ; etiology ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; adverse effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Cooking ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Assessment ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between Fas ligand (FasL) and gastric cancer extensively.

METHODSThe computerized CNKI database, Wangfang database, Weipu database, Springerlink full-text periodical database and ProQuest full-text periodical database were searched. And, the literatures detecting FasL in gastric cancer with immunohistochemical method which have been published during 1990 to 2006 were also reviewed. The research hypothesis and research method of each literature were the same; the diagnosis of case and control were definite; the size of sample was also definite; the primitive data must offer the number of object whose FasL were expressed positively or offered the positive rate. Each study and its quality were also evaluated. A software Review Manager 4.2.10, was used to analyze the data. and to estimate the overall OR and its 95% CI.

RESULTSA total of 49 literatures have been reviewed. According to the selection and washing out criteria, 13 literatures were used in this Meta-analysis. In the research of gastric cancer group and normal gastric mucosa group, 10 literatures were used. Between the two groups the expression of FasL has statistical significance (OR(overall) = 14.88, 95% CI 5.34 - 41.48; P < 0.00001); In the research of different differentiation level, 8 literatures were used. Between the two groups the expression of FasL had no statistical significance (OR(overall) = 1.90, 95% CI 0.68 - 5.28; P = 0.22); In the research of different TNM staging, 5 literatures were used. Between the two groups the expression of FasL had statistical significance (OR(overall) = 2.58, 95% CI 1.05 - 6.32; P = 0.04); In the research of different Lymph node metastasis, 8 literatures were used. Between the two groups the expression of FasL has no statistical significance (OR(overall) = 1.00, 95% CI 0.45 - 2.21; P = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONThe high expression of FasL is the high risk of gastric cancer, and TNM staging has some associations with gastric cancer.

Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVEUsing the health economics methodology to assess the screening program on gastric cancer in Zhuanghe high risk area for gastric cancer, from 2001 to 2003 and to assess the feasibility on cost of the screening program and to provide a basis for the popularization of the two-time gastric cancer screening methodology.

METHODSThree major techniques of medical economics namely cost-effective analysis (CEA), cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and cost-utility analysis (CUA) were used to assess the screening program. The screening program was composed of two steps: (1) epidemiological survey and detection of blood pepsinogen; (2) gastroscopy and biopsy of membrane. 'Number of deaths reduced' was used to evaluate the effect during cost-effective analysis while cost-benefit analysis would include the evaluation on the direct cost and indirect cost, direct benefit and indirect benefit as well as the cost-benefit ratio (CBR). During CUA, a questionnaire of WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess the value of the utility while the number of quality adjusted life year (QALY) saved by the screening program was also computed. The direct cost of per saved QALY was also calculated.

RESULTSDada from CEA showed that: investing every 8448 Yuan on screening program and treatment in Zhuanghe high risk area of gastric cancer, one gastric cancer patient could be avoided. Results from CBA showed that: direct cost was 1,260,000 Yuan while indirect cost was 40 621 Yuan with direct benefit as 101 500 Yuan and indirect benefit as 1 540 979 Yuan. The total cost however, was 1,300,621 Yuan with total benefit as 2,555,979 Yuan and CBR was 1:1.97. Data from CUA showed that: a total number of 331.44 QALY was saved, 11.43 QALY was saved by reducing one death, 3802 Yuan per QALY was saved in high risk area of gastric cancer, through this screening program.

CONCLUSIONThe screening program of gastric cancer appeared to be an economic and society-beneficial measure regarding primary prevention in high risk area of gastric cancer. We also suggested that in the future, evaluations through health economics methodologies on different screening programs be carried out in the same population to solve the problem of comparability.

Adult ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Health ; Humans ; Male ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Risk ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; economics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of a back propogation (BP) network on prediction of birth defect and to give clues on its prevention.

METHODSData of birth defect in Shenyang from 1995 to 2005 were used as a training set to predict the prevalence rate of birth defect. Neural network tools box of Software MATLAB 6.5 was used to train and simulate BP Artificial Neural Network.

RESULTSWhen using data of the year 1995-2003 to predict the prevalence rate of birth defect in 2004-2005, the results showed that: the fitting average error of prevalence rate was 1.34%, RNL was 0.9874, and the prediction of average error was 1.78%. Using data of the year 1995-2005 to predict the prevalence rate of birth defect in 2006-2007, the results showed that: the fitting average error was 0.33%, RNL was 0.9954, the prevalence rates of birth defect in 2006-2007 were 11.00% and 11.29%.

CONCLUSIONCompared to the conventional statistics method, BP not only showed better prediction precision, but had no limit to the type or distribution of relevant data, thus providing a powerful method in epidemiological prediction.

Congenital Abnormalities ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo assess the risk factors for vulvar dystrophy.

METHODSAn epidemiological study was carried out. Data on 100 cases with vulvar dystrophy was reviewed and face to face interviewed with a uniform questionnaire including the manner of work, environmental temperature, habit of eating, mood, underwear wearing, autoimmune diseases, marriage, menstrual age, the quantity of menses, orders of pregnancy, and labor trauma of vulvar during delivery, vulvitis and urethritis ect. Univariable analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out with 1:1 case-control methodology.

RESULTSMultiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that vulvar dystrophy was positively associated with hot food (OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.24 - 5.25), mood (OR = 4.27, 95% CI: 1.96 - 9.29), order of pregnancy (OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 2.11 - 5.40), vulvitis (OR = 6.74, 95% CI: 2.66 - 17.09) and urethritis (OR = 11.02, 95% CI: 1.01 - 120.19). Vulviitis or urethritis increased 6.74 or 11.02 times the incidence of vulva dystrophy. Anger or nervous state contributed to the incidence of vulva dystrophy (OR = 4.27). Addict to hot food and order of labor also increased risk ratio for 2.55 and 3.37 times, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe risk factors of vulvar dystrophy were: addict to hot food, often holding a angry or nervous state, increase of labors, having vulvitis and urethritis.

Diet ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Parity ; Risk Factors ; Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the most acceptable lower anterior face height of male and female by orthodontic treatment seeking people.

METHODSTwo hundred and thirty-two Chinese orthodontic seeking people of Guanghua Hospital of Stomatology of Sun Yat-sen University were randomly selected in this survey. An electronic questionnaire was designed with a set of male and female young Chinese adult images with changes of the lower anterior face height (while the middle anterior face height remains the same). They were asked about the lowest, highest and optimal proportion (or so-called lower, higher and optimum limits respectively) between the lower anterior face height and the middle anterior face height (LAFH/MAFH) they could accept. All the findings of the proportion were analyzed by a statistic system.

RESULTSThe lower limits' median value in regard to the LAFH/MAFH of male model and female model images was 0.8, this limit value for the male model's was greater than the female model's (P = 0.039); the higher limits' median value was 1.1, this limit value for the male model's was less than the female model's (P < 0.001); the optimum limits' median value was 0.9, this limit value for the male model's was greater than the female model's (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe result of this study shows all lower, higher and optimal limits accepted by the orthodontic treatment seeking people in regard to the proportion between the lower and middle height of anterior faces. This result will facilitate the understanding of aesthetic judgments of orthodontic patients on profile lower anterior facial height for orthodontist in treatments.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cephalometry ; Esthetics, Dental ; Face ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Vertical Dimension

To explore the efficacy of the different combinations of stem cell factor (SCF), FLT3 ligand (FL) and interleukin (IL) 2, 7, 15 on the induction and expansion of cord blood (CB) derived CIK/ NK cells in vitro, according to the different combinations of cytokines, combinations of cytokines were divided into 3 groups: group A (SCF + IL2 + IL7 + IL15), group B (SCF + FL + IL2 + IL7 + IL15) and group C (IL2 + IL7 + IL15 as control group). At 21 days of culture, the proportion and the expansion rate of CD3(+)CD56(+) CIK cells and CD3(-)CD56(+) NK cells were measured. The results showed that at 21 days in culture, the percentages of CD3(+)CD56(+) CIK cells derived from CB-MNC in group A, B and C were (19.84 +/- 2.93)%, (26.20 +/- 4.05)%, (24.03 +/- 4.99%) and that of NK cells were (49.60 +/- 1.40)%, (51.16 +/- 6.45)% and (30.85 +/- 8.12)%, respectively. The proliferation of CD3(+)CD56(+) CIK cells and CD3(-)CD56(+) NK cells was the most effective in group B (SCF + FL + IL2 + IL7 + IL15). Expansion multiple of CIK cell number increased from 575.81 +/- 221.72 (control) to 796.09 +/- 278.47 with peak value of 1 313, and that of NK cells increased from 30.39 +/- 14.47 (control) to 65.85 +/- 30.83 with peak value of 121.06. In conclusion, a proper cytokines (SCF + FL + IL2 + IL7 + IL15) culture system can effectively induce and expand CB CD3(+)CD56(+) CIK cells and CD3(-)CD56(+) NK cells simultaneously.
CD3 Complex ; analysis ; CD56 Antigen ; analysis ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-15 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-7 ; pharmacology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; Membrane Proteins ; pharmacology ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDThe tendency of tumor cells to disperse throughout the liver is a distinct feature of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nck family adaptor proteins function to regulate actin cytoskeletal reorganization that leads to cell motility. We previously found that Max binding protein (MNT) was differentially expressed in HCC, and interacted with Nck1 by 2-DE. MNT is a protein member of the Myc/Max/Mad network which plays roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. We investigated the effects of MNT on migration of human liver cancer SK-HEP-1 cells to study the migration regulatory role of MNT in HCC cells.

METHODSInteraction between MNT and Nck1 was further validated in hepatoma cells by GST-pull down assay and immunoprecipitation. siRNAs specific to MNT (MNT siRNA) were used to knockdown MNT expression. Western blotting, transwell assay were used to determine the migration potential of cells.

RESULTSInteraction between MNT and Nck1 was validated in hepatoma cells. MNT knockdown promoted the migration of human liver cancer SK-HEP-1 cells (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that MNT, via interaction with Nck1, inhibits hepatoma cell migration.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Liver Neoplasms ; Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; genetics ; physiology ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction