Objective The purpose of the study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese Version of Hypoglycemia Fear Survey Ⅱ-Worry Scale (CHFSⅡ-WS) and provide a psychological assessment tool for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods The CHFSⅡ-WS was tested in 300 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus for measuring the scale's reliability and validity.Results The itemlevel content validity index (Ⅰ-CVI) of the CHFSⅡ-WS was 0.78～1.00,the scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.928.Through the exploratory factor analysis two factors were extracted which accounted for 52.959％ of the total variance.The test-retested reliability of the CHFSⅡ-WS was 0.911,Cronbach'α coefficient was 0.904.Conclusions The CHFSⅡ-WS has excellent reliability and validity,which can be used as a valid tool for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in China.

ObjectiveTo investigate the corelation between fibrinogen in pleural effusion and pleural adhesion in tuberculosis exudative pleurisy.Methods234 cases of primary tuberculosis pleurisy were divided into 3 groups (A、B、C) according to their level of fibrinogen in pleural effusion from low to high. The incidence rates of pleural adhesion were assessed during the course of treatment and after treatment.ResultsThe incidence rate of pleural adhesion in the course of treatment were as those: group A 10.5%, group B 32.3%, group C 54.5%. After treatment, it was as those: group A 10.5%, group B 16.9%, group C 42.4%. Whenever, there was significant difference between group C and group A or B (P<0.05).ConclusionThe level of fibrinogen in pleural effusion may be associated with pleural adhesion, which hinder the recovery of patients.

Objective To explore the behaviors caused by fear of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients, and deeply analyze the causes of these behaviors, providing help for medical staff to fully understand the inner demands of diabetic patients with hypoglycemia, so as to manage the blood glucose effectively, laying the foundation of Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-behavior scale suitable for domestic type 2 diabetic patients. Methods The interpretative phenomenological analysis method was used guided by the knowledge-attitude-belief-practice and social cognitive theory, 33 patients with hypoglycemia from 5 hospitals with different levels were interviewed by semi-structured interview. Results Four themes were extracted, including excess sensitivity, caution, avoidance and compromise. The theme excess sensitivity contained three kinds of behaviors, that were meal with sensitive alertness, drug sensitivity and excessive response to the hypoglycemia, while the theme caution contained two kinds of behaviors, that were strive to blood sugar stable and must prepare food. Conclusions The results show that the fear of hypoglycemia is serious in type 2 diabetic patients, and they make many behavior change to avoid it, affecting their quality of life and glycemic management. Medical staff should attach importance to the inner feelings and behaviors of diabetic patients with hypoglycemia, and provide guidance and support after comprehensive assessment, working together with the patient to realize the effective management of blood glucose.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of acupoint catgut embedding therapy and acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on the long-term efficacy and patient's life quality in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

METHODSSixty-nine patients were randomized into the combined acupuncture-moxibustion and acupoint catgut embedding therapy group (combined therapy group, 36 cases) and an acupuncture-moxibustion group (33 cases). In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, acupuncture was applied at Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8), Yintang (GV 29), Shangxing (GV 23), Tongtian (BL 7) and Zusanli (ST 36). Moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36), Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengmen (BL 12). In the combined therapy group, on the basis of the treatment as acupuncture-moxibustion group, the catgut embedding therapy was applied at Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Qihai (CV 6). The treatment duration was 4 weeks in the two groups. The clinical efficacy of allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score were observed before and after treatment as well as in the 4-weeks follow-up after the end of treatment respectively.

RESULTSThe markedly effective rate was 72.7% (24/33) in the combined therapy group and 48.4% (15/31) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group after treatment. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). It was 57.6% (19/33) in the combined therapy group and was 22. 6% (7/31) in the 4-week follow-up after treatment, indicating the long-term efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to that in the acupuncture-moxibustion group (P<0. 05). Scores of RQLO after treatment and in 4-week follow-up after treatment in both groups were improved as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05). In 4-week follow-up, the improvements in sleep and affection in the combined therapy group were superior to the acupuncture-moxibustion group (3.27 +/- 3.23 vs 4.61 +/- 3.56, 3.48 +/- 3.67 vs 5.81 +/- 4.15, both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with acupuncture-moxibustion therapy are safe and effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and display the more roles in the long-term efficacy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the expression of wild type estrogen receptor(wER)and the ex-on-5 deleted ER(variant ER,vER)in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)samples,and thereafteranalyze the possibility of HCC treatment by endocrine therapy.Methods:The mRNA expressions of wERand vER were analysed from 28 cases of HCC by RT-PCR.The expression of ER at the protein level wasdetected by immunohistochemistry(IHC).Results:IHC results showed that 39.3% of the HCC speci-mens expressed ER.The mRNA of wER was detected in 89.3%(25/28)of the HCC specimens whilethat of vER was detected in 96.4%(27/28).Twenty four out of 28 HCC cases(85.7%)expressedboth wER and vER.One out of 28 patients(3.5%)expressed only wER whereas 3 patients out of 28(10.7%)expressed vER only.Conclusion:Ninety six percent(27/28)of the HCC patients expressedvER,which suggests that the expression of vER is an important event in the development of HCC.

OBJECTIVETo study spiral CT cholangiography (SCTC) before treatment in patients with obstructive jaundice due to unknown cause.

METHODSBetween October 1998 and November 2000, a total of 59 patients with obstructive jaundice of unknown cause were examined by two-phase enhanced spiral CT (eSCT). Twenty-nine of these cases were excluded because they had had T-Bil of > 34 micromol/L so that their biliary duct system could not have been visualized. The remaining 30 patients were 17 male and 13 female with an age range of 31 - 76 years (mean 56.6). Pathologically, the lesion was proven to be carcinoma of pancreatic head (n = 9), Vater's ampulla carcinoma (n = 4), extrahepatic or hilar cholangiocarcinoma (n = 13), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 1), chronic pancreatitis (n = 1) and cholelithiasis (n = 2). SCTC was performed through intravenous injection of 20 ml 50% Cholografin within 20 min before eSCT. SCTC was undertaken with parameters of a slice thickness of 2 - 3 mm, a table feed of 3 - 5 mm, a gantry time of 0.75 sec, a reconstruction interval of 1 - 2 mm, a pitch of 1.1 - 1.2, a voltage of 120 kV, a current of 220 - 240 mA, a matrix of 512 x 512 and a scan range from the level above hepatic hilum to the third segment of duodenum within 60 - 105 min following the injection. Both reconstructed SCTC source images and later eSCT scans were considered as axial CT (ACT). Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) was obtained immediately on the operator console. 3D imaging adopted in our study was volume rendering technology (VRT) that was processed on the Siemens 3D Virtuoso workstation within 30 min. Opacification of biliary tree (OBT) analyzed by Grades 1 to 5 and image quality (IQ) assessed by 4 scales as excellent, good, fair and poor were investigated in ACT, MPR and VRT, respectively. The correlation between total OBT, which was the highest among the 3 image methods in the same case, and T-Bil, D-Bil, ALT, severity of the biliary obstruction (SBO) as well as level of the obstruction was analyzed.

RESULTSIn OBT, no statistically significant difference was found in the five grades by the three imaging techniques (P > 0.05), the distribution of percentages being 0, 0, 13.3%, 30.0% and 56.7% in ACT, 0, 6.7%, 20.0%, 30.0% and 43.3% in MPR and 0, 0, 13.3%, 40.0% and 46.7% in VRT. The evident correlation between total OBT and D-Bil (r(s) = -0.719), ALT (r(s) = -0.544) and SBO (r(s) = 0.650) was showed. In IQ, only a statistical significance existed between ACT and MPR (P = 0.034), having the scales "excellent to poor" in percentages of 93.3%, 6.7%, 0 and 0 for ACT, 66.7%, 30.0%, 3.3% and 0 for MPR and 70.0%, 23.3%, 6.7% and 0 for VRT, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAccording to our study, spiral CT cholangiography is very useful for the evaluation of selected patients with suspected obstructive jaundice before treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Cholangiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance and detection of the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood in patients with hepatitis B.

METHODSThe expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells were measured by using flow cytometry in 53 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 53 carrier with hepatitis B virus and 26 healthy blood donors, and follow up 20 patients with HBV-DNA positive treated with interferon.

RESULTS(1) Compared with healthy controls, the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients and carrier with hepatitis B virus were lower (Q = 4.559, P < 0.05; Q = 6.230, P < 0.05). (2) The expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients with HBV-DNA positive (n = 77) was lower than that of negative (n = 29) (t = 2.290, P = 0.024). (3) Compared with the prior treatment,the expression of CD25- CD127- on CD4+ T cells in patients with B hepatitis were lower after interferon treated with 12 weeks (t = 2.469, P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONIt suggested that the CD25- CD127- expression on CD4+ T cells correlated with viral infections and cleared,exogenous interferon could decrease CD25- CD127- expression on CD4+ T cells.

Adult ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; blood ; Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit ; blood ; Male

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of T-614 in treating rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods Two hundred and eighty patients with active RA were randomly allocated to 3 groups:T-614 50 mg each day,25 mg each day or placebo.Clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed at baseline,2,4,6,12, 18 and 24 weeks.Results The ACR response rate was significantly higher in the T-614 treatment group com- pared with the placebo group during the first 6 weeks.After 24 weeks,25 mg/d,50 mg/d dosage group and the placebo group showed 39.1%,61.3% and 24.2% in ACR20,23.9%,31.2% and 7.4% in ACR50 respectively.A time-response in ACR response after 24 weeks was observed,with clear superiority of the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups compared to the placebo,and 50 mg/d dosage group compared to 25 mg/d dosage group(P

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have indicated the possibility that genistein may improve depression via regulating the expression of miR-221/222. This study is to explore whether genistein could improve depression by altering miR-221/222 levels and investigate the possible mechanisms involved in the improvement effect of genistein. METHODS: The animal model of depression was established through unpredictable chronic mild stress. Nest building test and splash test were adapted to evaluate the effects of genistein on depressive symptoms in mice. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of miR-221/222 and connexin 43 (Cx43) in the prefrontal cortex of the mice. In vitro, U87-MG astrocytes were treated with genistein and the expression of miR-221/222 and Cx43 was measured. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify whether Cx43 was a direct target of miR-221/222. RESULTS: The behavioral tests showed that genistein could significantly reduce depression symptoms of mice, and this remission was not affected by gender. Genistein in vivo and in vitro could reduce increased levels of miR-221 and miR-222 in the prefrontal cortex of depressed mice, while upregulate Cx43 expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay suggested Cx43 was directly regulated by miR-221/222 in astrocytes. CONCLUSION: Genistein can play its antidepressant effect through down-regulating miR-221/222 by targeting Cx43.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; Behavior Rating Scale ; Blotting, Western ; Connexin 43* ; Depression* ; Genistein* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Prefrontal Cortex

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Bushengzhuyang Fang (Yangjing Capsule, YJC) on penile erectile function and its action mechanisms in rats.

METHODSFifty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups of equal number: blank control, daidzein, daidzein + testosterone, daidzein + sildenafil, daidzein + low-dose YJC, daidzein + medium-dose YJC, and daidzein + high-dose YJC. The rats in the blank control group were treated intragastrically with normal saline and those in the other groups with daidzein at the dose of 100 mg per kg per day for 30 days. Then the last five groups received additionally testosterone (4 mg per kg per day), sildenafil (2.5 mg per kg per day), low-dose YJC, (0.315 mg per kg per day), medium-dose YJC (0.63 mg per kg per day), and high-dose YJC (1. 26 mg per kg per day), respectively. At 0, 30 and 60 days of treatment, we observed the apomorphine-induced spontaneous erectile response and pathological changes in the corpus cavernosum of the rats, recorded the number of penile erection and erectile incubation period, and determined the serum levels of testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

RESULTSAt 30 days of treatment, the number of apomorphine-induced erections was decreased, the erectile incubation period prolonged, and the serum levels of T and LH reduced remarkably in all groups of rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the findings at 30 days, the number of penile erections was significantly decreased at 60 days in the daidzein group (1.39 ± 0.42 vs 2.67 ± 0.33, P < 0.05) and daidzein + low-dose YJC group (1.33 ± 0.49 vs 2.83 ± 0.61, P < 0.05); the erectile incubation period was markedly ex- tended ([16.33 ± 3.11] vs [8.50 ± 0.93] min and [15.50 ± 3.21] vs [8.63 ± 1.54] min, P < 0.05); and the serum levels of T ([5.34 ± 0.89] vs [1.24 ± 0.30] ng/ml and [5.28 ± 1.12] vs [2.07 ± 0.76] ng/ml, P < 0.05) and LH ([3.62 ± 0.37] vs [2.09 ± 0.12] ng/ml and [3.79 ± 0.28] vs [2.17 ± 0.33] ng/ml, P < 0.05) were significantly reduced in the daidzein and daidzein + low-dose YJC groups, respectively. Pathological examination revealed slightly decreased cavernous sinuses and blood vessels in the corpus cavernosum of the rats in the daidzein + testosterone, daidzein + sildenafil, daidzein + medium-dose YJC, and daidzein + high-dose YJC groups as compared with those in the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONHigh-dose Yangjing Capsule is efficacious for the recovery of erectile function in rats, especially for phytoestrogen-induced erectile dysfunction.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Male ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; physiology ; Penis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Phytoestrogens ; Phytotherapy ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Purines ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use ; Testosterone ; therapeutic use ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use