Objective To study the inter-rater reliability of Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) and Gait Abnormality Rating Scale (GARS) in patients with stroke. Methods 20 hemiplegic patients were required to walk on their comfortable speed and videotaped from frontal, backward and lateral. The video recordings were scored with WGS and GARS by 2 experienced physical therapists. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for the scores in each category and the total score. Results ICC for the WGS were 0.372~1, and were 0~0.875 for the GARS. Conclusion WGS is more appropriater to assess the gait of hemiplegic stroke patients than GARS.

Objective To find the plantar pressure readings which best indicate foot inversion during the stance phase of walking among hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods Twenty-two hemiplegic stroke survivors who were able to walk without extra aid were recruited as the experimental group, while 17 healthy elderly men of similar age and body weight were selected as the control group.Those in both groups were asked to walk at their preferred speed over a Footscan device which measured medio-lateral pressure ratios, maximum plantar pressures and the contact areas of both feet.The Clinical Spasticity Index (CSI) was used to evaluate the affected feet.Results The average medial forefoot pressure of the affected side in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group, but their average mesopodium and heel pressure was significantly higher.The average pressure applied by the great toe on the uninjured side in the experimental group was significantly smaller than that of the control group, but the average mesopodium and heel pressure of both feet among the hemiplegics were significantly higher than those of the control group.Among the experimental group, the average medial forefoot pressure of the affected foot was significantly greater than that of the healthy foot.The average contact area of the great toe on the affected side was significantly bigger than was observed in the control group.That of the medial forefoot was, however, significantly smaller than in the control group.There was no significant difference in the contact area between the healthy and affected feet in the experimental group, though the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of their full feet and forefeet on the affected side were significantly lower than those in the healthy group.No significant differences in the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of the heel were observed between the two groups, nor of the full feet, forefeet and heels of the affected and unaffected sides in the experimental group.The patients demonstrated consistently reduced joint mobility on both sides during the stance phase, coinciding with increased inversion.A significant negative correlation was found between the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of the full foot and the maximum pressure of the lateral part of forefoot in the experimental group, but there was no significant correlation with contact area or CSI.Conclusions Plantar pressure data can be used to describe the amount of foot inversion in the stance phase of walking with hemiplegic patients after stroke.The maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios can effectively reflect their foot inversion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic predictors of nasal NK/T cell lymphoma.

METHODSThe clinicopathologic feature data of 61 patients with nasal NK/T cell lymphoma proven by pathological examination from Jan. 1997 to Jan. 2005 were collected. Expression of survivin, CD44, nm23, p53, Ki-67, MDR-1 and CD95 was detected by immunohistochemical staining in 30 patients with available histologic specimens. The correlation between these factors and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSIn univariate analysis, performance status, LDH level, clinical stage, initial treatment response, CD56, Ki-67 and CD95 were found to be the prognostic factors associated with time to progression (TTP) in nasal NK/T cell lymphoma, while the performance status, B symptoms, LDH level, initial treatment response, Ki-67 and CD95 were demonstrated as prognostic factors related to overall survival. In multivariate analysis, clinical stage, initial treatment response and performance status were independent prognostic factors for TTP, while the latter two factors were independent prognostic factors of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONClinical stage and initial treatment response, and performance status are found to be independent prognostic factors for TTP, whereas the latter two factors are demonstrated as independent prognostic factors of the overall survival. Overexpression of Ki-67 may be an unfavorable prognostic factor, but overexpression of CD95 may be a favorable one.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; analysis ; Immunohistochemistry ; statistics & numerical data ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nose Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use ; fas Receptor ; analysis

Adult ; Elbow Joint ; injuries ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; therapy ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods ; Radius ; injuries

Objective To learn the present application situation of Standards for blood storage and Technical specification for clinical blood transfusion during blood safety supervision at blood collecting agencies and medical institutions in Shanghai, and to provide a reference for strengthening blood storage safety supervision. Methods Questionnaires and retrospective study on blood storage inspection status were carried out to nine blood banks and 301 medical institutions in Shanghai from 2008 to 2015. Results Health administrative department carried out 2 574 times of blood safety supervision and inspection, and made a total of 12 blood safety administrative punishment from 2008 to 2015, the punishment rate was 0.47%.The tendency of applying Technical specification for clinical blood transfusion was found in health administrative departments and health supervision institutes regarding to administrative punishment, blood safety supervision and regulatory. Conclusion the priority and scope of application of Standards for blood storage and Technical specification for clinical blood transfusion should be cleared, and the standards should be improved.

This study was purposed to establish a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) for quantifying SALL4 mRNA and to investigate its expression in different types of leukemia patients. SALL4 mRNA expression were measured in 60 leukemia patients of different periods and 10 normal controls sequentially by FQ-PCR. The results showed that the expression of SALL4 mRNA in de novo leukemia patients and relapsed patients was higher than that in controls (P < 0.05), which was significantly decreased at complete remission (CR). In relapsed patients, the expression of SALL4 mRNA increased slightly higher than that in de novo leukemia group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). However, the expression of SALL4 mRNA was low in CLL, T-ALL and AML-M3. The expression pattern of BMI-1 was same as SALL4, and the expression of BMI-1 positively correlated with that of SALL4 in leukemia (r = 0.825, P < 0.01). It is concluded that the detection of SALL4 gene expression in acute and chronic leukemia by real-time gTR-PCR displays high sensitivity and specificity. SALL4 gene may be one of indicators for monitoring the therapeutic outcome of partial leukemia and minimal residual disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Young Adult

Objective To determine key indicators from the current assessment indicators for rapid and safe transportation of high pathogenic biological samples. Methods Based on the current assessment tables of biological safety inspection for high pathogenic biological samples, a total of seven experts were consulted on the 21 indicators by Delphi method.Key assessment indicators were selected through two rounds of consultation and analysis of indexes with boundary value method. Results A total of seven key assessment indexes were selected as the rapid evaluation indexes for safe transportation of high pathogenic biological samples including effective certificate, the management of transportation personnel and transportation vehicles, the safety of transportation packaging, and transportation report. Conclusion A system of rapid assessment indexes about the safe transportation of high pathogenic biological samples have been established.The rapid assessment system can shorten the evaluation time and improve the efficiency of transportation safety supervision for health supervision departments, and can provide a set of rapid self-assessment indexes for the transport sector, thus the biological safety of transportation can be greatly enhanced.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) gene on cell growth and invasion of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSRecombinant lentivirus vector for shRNA delivery of EZH2 was constructed and transfected into 293FT cells. After collecting the viral particles, the NPC cell line 5-8F cells were transfected. The effects of EZH2 silence on cell proliferation and cell cycle were detected using MTT assay, plate colony formation assay and flow cytometry. The migration and invasion of 5-8F cells were determined by wound healing assay and matrigel invasion assay, respectively. The expressions of EZH2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers at mRNA and protein levels were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSThe expressions of EZH2 mRNA and protein in the transfected 5-8F cells were obviously reduced. MTT assay showed that EZH2 downregulation significantly inhibited the growth of 5-8F/shEZH2 cells (P < 0.001). Colony formation rate (84.44%) of 5-8F/shEZH2 cells was lower than control (31.56%, P = 0.001). Cell cycle analysis showed that most 5-8F/shEZH2 cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase, with a very low ratio of cells in S phase. Wound healing assay indicated that the migration ability of cells silencing EZH2 decreased significantly, and the 48-hour relative migration distance of 5-8F/ShEZH2 cells and control cells was 0.58 ± 0.05, and 0.81 ± 0.02, respectively (P < 0.000). Matrigel invasion assay, showed the invasive capacity of cells silencing EZH2 was significantly inhibited, with less penetrating cells (72.23 ± 4.08) compared to control (150.95 ± 16.27), P < 0.000. The mRNA expressions of epithelial markers E-cadherin and Keratin 18 in the cells silencing EZH2 increased by 177% and 158% respectively, and the mRNA expressions of mesenchymal markers β-catenin and N-cadherin decreased by 18.04% and 41.18% respectively. Similar results also were obtained with Western blot analysis.

CONCLUSIONEZH2 significantly enhanced the proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro, which might be mediated by inducing EMT.

Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 ; genetics

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) actin filament-associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1) functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate target genes expression by sponging microRNAs (miRs) to play cancer-promoting roles in cancer stem cells. However, the regulatory mechanism of AFAP1-AS1 in cervical cancer (CC) stem cells is unknown. The present study aimed to provide a new therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of CC. METHODS: Hyaluronic acid receptor cluster of differentiation 44 variant exon 6 (CD44v6)(+) CC cells were isolated by flow cytometry (FCM). Small interfering RNAs of AFAP1-AS1 (siAFAP1-AS1) were transfected into the (CD44v6)(+) cells. The levels of AFAP1-AS1 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Sphere formation assay, cell cycle analysis, and Western blotting were used to detect the effect of siAFAP1-AS1. RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assay were used to verify the relationship between miR-27b-3p and AFAP1-AS1 or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C. RESULTS: CD44v6(+) CC cells had remarkable stemness and a high level of AFAP1-AS1. However, AFAP1-AS1 knockdown with siAFAP1-AS1 suppressed the cell cycle transition of G(1)/S phase and inhibited self-renewal of CD44v6(+) CC cells, the levels of the stemness markers octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), osteopontin (OPN), and cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133), and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins Twist1, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-9, and VEGF-C. In the mechanism study, miR-27b-3p/VEGF-C signaling was demonstrated to be a key downstream of AFAP1-AS1 in the CD44v6(+) CC cells. CONCLUSIONS LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 knockdown inhibits the CC cell stemness by upregulating miR-27b-3p to suppress VEGF-C.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/genetics* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C

Objective·To investigate the association between mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or insulin resistance in middle-aged and elderly Chinese community population. Methods·A cross-sectional study was conducted in 6570 residents aged 40 years or older in Jiading District of Shanghai in 2014. All participants received standard questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, biochemical evaluation and ultrasonic examination. NAFLD was defined by hepatic ultrasonography, after excluding subjects with excess alcohol consumption and medical history of liver diseases. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to the quartiles of MUAC, then association between MUAC and NAFLD or insulin resistance was analyzed. Results·With the increase of MUAC level, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triacylglycerol, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR levels, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase,γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and aspartic transaminase levels were increased significantly (all P<0.01), as well as the prevalence of NAFLD, hypertension,dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance (all P<0.01). A fully adjusted multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that with the increase of MUAC level, the risk of having NAFLD and insulin resistance were increased among women. However, among men, there was no correlation between MUAC and NAFLD or insulin resistance. Conclusion·MUAC is significantly associated with NAFLD and insulin resistance in middle-aged and elderly female Chinese community population.