In recent years, dielectric barrier discharge has been well developed in analytical chemistry, especially in spectrometric analysis. This review emphasizes its applications in atomic spectrometry, including atomic emission spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, and chemical vapor generation for sample introduction to atomic spectrometry.

Objective To measure the daily nursing workload by simplified therapeutic intervention scoring system and provide information for reasonable dynamic management of nursing manpower and improving nursing service satisfaction of patients in elderly ICU.Methods 113 patients in elderly ICU were selected from July 2012 to June 2013.The Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System 28(TISS-28) was used to measure the nursing workload,reasonably arranged the nursing staff according to the daily total nursing workload.The average daily working time and service satisfaction were compared before and after the application of dynamic management of nursing manpower.Results After the application of dynamic management of nursing manpower,the average daily working time of nurses decreased,satisfactory degree of patients with nursing service increased,and satisfactory degree of medical workers with nursing manpower management also increased.Conclusions Measurement of nursing workload by TISS-28 can provide the basis for the dynamic management of nursing manpower in elderly ICU and improve satisfaction degree of medical workers.

Objective This paper is to validate a speech intelligibility test in Chinese mandarin for the evaluation of speakers with cleft palate, and to determine the intelligibility deficit patterns based on minimal pairs. Methods Thirty cleft palate patients with dysarthria were included as speakers for the test. Then the speech intelligibility of each speaker was rated and the error proportions of each minimal pair were analyzed by SPSS 16.0. The stepwise multiple regression analysis was employed to determine which minimal pairs were the best predictors of reduced speech intelligibility. Results The intelligibility scores were obtained form the thirty speakers ranged from 37% to 92.4%. The error proportion of the minimal pairs was ranged from 0. 13 to 0. 80. The three most problematic pairs, from the most to least severe were dental versus retroflex pair (0.80), retroflex versus palatal pair(0.68), and aspirated versus un-aspirated affricative pair(0.66). The speech intelligibility from cleft palate patients could be predicted at 71.5% accuracy using two pairs, aspirated versus un-aspirated affricative pair, dentals versus palatal pair. Conclusion The speech intelligibility test for Chinese Mandarin speakers with cleft palate can be used as an effective evaluation method, both qualitatively and quantificationally.

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the association between Ile105Val polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1) and sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer.Methods The relevant published literatures about Ile105Val polymorphism of GSTP1 and sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy in gastric cancer were retrieved from China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI),VIP,Chinese Biomedical Literature Data (CBM),Wan-Fang databases,PubMed,EMBASE and Cochrane Library.Clinical response (complete response and partial response) was employed to estimate chemosensitivity.Meta-analysis was conducted by the RevMan 5.2 software,odds ratio (OR) with 95％ confidence interval (CI) were calculated.Publication bias was identified using Stata 12.0 software.Results A total of 724 cases from 6 case-control trials were included.The results of Meta-analysis showed the different statistical significance was found between GSTP1 Ilel05Val polymorphism and clinical response in the follow genotypes [GG+GA vs AA:OR =2.38,95％CI (1.29 ～4.38); GG vs GA + AA:OR =3.66,95％CI (1.18 ～11.39) ; GG vs AA:OR =4.42,95％ CI (1.28 ～ 15.26)] and Asian population subgroups [GG + GAvs AA:OR =2.93,95％ CI (1.33 ～ 6.48)].Conclusion Polymorphism of GSTP1 Ile105Val(A/G) may be associated with platinum-based chemosensitivity in advanced gastric cancer.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety between postoperative chemoradiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy alone in patients with gastric cancer by a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Methods Chinese Scientific Journal Full-Text Database (January 1979-June 2013),VIP (January 1989-June 2013),Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (January 1978-June 2013),Cochrane Library (Issue 6,2013),PubMed (January 1966-June 2013),and EMBASE (January 1974-June 2013) were searched to identify RCTs of postoperative chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in patients with gastric cancer.The obtained data were analyzed using RevMan 5.2 and Stata 12.The difference between two groups was estimated by calculating the risk ratio (RR) with 95％ confidence interval (CI).Results A total of 1 143 patients from 11 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Our results showed that postoperative chemoradiotherapy significantly increased 1-,2-,and 3-year overall survival rates (RR =1.20,95％ CI=1.10-1.30,P=0.00; RR =1.34,95％ CI=1.16-1.56,P=0.00; RR =2.62,95％ CI=1.72-3.97,P=0.00) and 3-and 5-year disease-free survival rates (RR =1.10,95 ％ CI =1.00-1.21,P =0.04; RR =1.27,95％ CI =1.02-1.60,P =0.04).The incidence of grade 3 or 4 gastrointestinal tract reactions,liver function impairment,bone marrow suppression,and hand-foot syndrome was low and showed little difference between two groups (P =0.03-0.78).Conclusions Postoperative chemoradiotherapy can prolong the survival of patients with gastric cancer,and the patients have good tolerance to chemotherapy drugs.

As a kind of biomaterial, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) has excellent biodegradable and bioacceptable capabilities using. This study was aimed to probe into the feasibility of CMC to prepare the implantable sustained release Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride (CPX) microspheres(MS), and to go further into the pharmaceutic technology, the morphology and the characteristics of in vitro release of the microspheres. First, we prepared the microspheres by emulsification and cross-linking technology. Then, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectrum (IR) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were used to detect the structure and morphology of the MS. The in vitro release of CPX/CMC-MS and the CPX content of the MS were detected through continuous-flow releasing system. We found that the structure and morphology of the MS were affected by the conditions of preparation such as emulsification and cross-linking temperature, ionic strength and stirring speed, that the releasing time of CPX was more than 7 days, and that the releasing behaviors of the microspheres conformed to the Higuchi model. So we drew the conclusions that CMC could be used as a kind of absorbable and implantable adjuvant for sustained release, the technology of emulsification and cross-linking was proved to be feasible, stable and simple.
Absorbable Implants ; Biocompatible Materials ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chitin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Chitosan ; Ciprofloxacin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemical synthesis ; Humans ; Microspheres

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of tilianin(TIL)on brain tissue in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS:Totally 120 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(0.9% sodium chloride solution),model group(0.9% sodium chloride solution),nimodipine group(32 mg/kg)and TIL low-dose and medium-dose,high-dose groups(4, 8,16 mg/kg),with 20 rats in each group. The rats were given relevant medicine intragastrically,once a day,for consecutive 7 d. 15 min after last medication,cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established by reforming suture-occluded method. The neurological deficit score in rats were evaluated, and percentage of cerebral infarction volume of rats was determined. Histopathological changes of brain tissue were observed by HE staining. The activities of SOD,CAT and LDH,MDA content in cerebral tissue of rats were determined. The expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)and peripheral vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) protein were determined by Western blot assay. RESULTS:Compared with sham operation group,neurological deficit score and percentage of cerebral infarction volume of model group were increased significantly(P＜0.01);the nerve cells in brain tissue were significantly reduced and the interstitial edema was obvious. SOD and CAT activities were decreased significantly,LDH activity was increased significantly,MDA content was decreased significantly,protein expression of CGRP and VEGFR2were increased significantly(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). Compared with model group,neurological deficit score of nimodipine group,TIL medium-dose and high-dose groups were decreased significantly;percentage of cerebral infarction volume was decreased significantly (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);above pathological conditions of cerebral tissue in rats were relieved significantly;SOD and CAT activities were strengthened significantly,MDA content and LDH activities were decreased significantly,protein expression of CGRP and VEGFR2were increased significantly (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). CONCLUSIONS: TIL has certain protective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model rats,and its mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of CGRP and VEGFR2expression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangzhou in 2010.

METHODSAnti-HIV antibody was detected in the volunteers undergoing HIV tests in the year 2010, and the differences in the sexual role, education, use of condom and complicated infection of syphilis were analyzed among these subjects.

RESULTSA total of 1526 MSM volunteered to participate in the investigation, among whom 87 (5.70%) were confirmed to have HIV infection. The positivity rate of HIV infection was 3.54%, 7.14% and 6.70% in subjects reporting active anal copulation, passive anal copulation, and both, respectively, showing a significant difference in respect of the sexual role (χ(2)=6.450, P=0.040). The positivity rate also differed significantly among married, unmarried and divorced subjects (9.45%, 4.92%, and 4.17%, respectively; χ(2)=7.184, P=0.028). The positivity rate was 21.31% among those with syphilis, significantly higher than the rate in those without syphilis (5.06%, χ(2)=25.770, P<0.001). Use of condom was not associated with a significant reduction of HIV positivity rate (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe high anti-HIV positivity rate among MSM in Guangzhou indicates a high risk of unsafe sexual behaviors, especially anal copulations. The anal copulation receivers, often young and have a lower rate of condom use, constitute a high-risk group of HIV transmission.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; HIV Seropositivity ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Homosexuality, Male ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sexual Behavior ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate if there are microsatellite loci in the long arm of chromosome 6 that have close relationship with non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODSMultiple PCR approach was used to analyze the 18 loci in the long arm of chromosome 6. The PCR products were analyzed in PAGE, and then the electrophoresis maps were analyzed with Gene Scan(TM) and Genotyper(TM).

RESULTSThere were different frequencies of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in different loci (varying from 3.85% to 38.45%). The total frequency of LOH in 41 gastric cancers was 58.5%(24/41). Eight loci with the LOH frequency higher than 20% were mainly located in 2 regions: 6q24 and 6q27. The accurate location is 6q24-6q25.3 [D6S1699(35%), D6S409(23.33%), D6S441(33.33%)] and 6q26-27 [D6S1550(38.45%), D6S264(20%), D6S1585(25%), D6S446(33.33%), D6S281(30.77%)].

CONCLUSIONThere may be tumor suppressor genes located in the region of 6q24 and 6q27, which have close relationship with non-small cell lung cancer.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; genetics ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of betatrophin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the influential factors. 
 METHODS: A total of 100 PCOS patients were enrolled randomly as a PCOS group, and 40 age-matched healthy women were recruited as a normal control (NC) group. Primary clinical or biochemical parameters of the subjects were detected. The results were analyzed by SPSS 19.0.
 RESULTS: Serum betatrophin levels were elevated in the PCOS group compared with the NC group. Serum betatrophin levels were positively correlated with age and Whole Body Insulin Sensitivity Index (WBISI),and negatively correlated with body mass index, fasting insulin(FINS), homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostatic model assessment β cell function (HOMA-β). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that age and waist hip ratio (WHR) were independent influential factors for the level of betatrophin. PCOS was more likely to occur in women with higher betatrophin levels.
 CONCLUSION Serum betatrophin levels increase in women with PCOS and they are independently associated with age and WHR. There is no significant correlation between betatrophin and insulin resistance or insulin levels.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Angiopoietin-like Proteins ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; Peptide Hormones ; blood ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; physiopathology ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; statistics & numerical data