AIM:To introduce and evaluate two methods for sample size calculation in doseresponse research.METHODS:The methods used for sample size calculation in dose-response research include Cochran-Armitage trend(CAT) test proposed by Jun-mo Nam and the Unified contrast(CUC) method proposed by Chang. This paper takes the example of binary data,uses the two methods to calculate the required sample size and evaluate the power by simulation under the assumption that the response rate had a linear relationship with dosage under the logit scale.RESULTS:When the probability of response followed a linear trend on the logit scale, the sample sizes estimated from the two methods are approximately equal in various parameter's settings.The simulated power of CAT test was close to the expected one,however,the simulated power of CUC method was obviously affected by the values of contrast coefficient,if a contrast whose coefficients parallel the expected response, the CUC method was more powerful. CONCLUSION:When the probability of response follows a linear trend over dosage on the logit scale,the two methods reach almost the same result,in such circumstance,the Chang's unified contrast method will obtain an increasing power.

Objective To investigate the relationship between cognitive function and emotional status in functional constipation patients.Methods Thirty-five functional constipation patients (the functional constipation group) and 24 healthy controls (the HCs) were enrolled in an event-related potential (ERP),behavior and electroeneephalogram study while performing an oddball auditory task.Response time,accuracy,latency and P300 amplitude were compared between the two groups.The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-17),Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA),symptom check list-90 (SCL-90) and Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ) were administered prior to the oddball task.Results The average HAMD-17,HAM A and SCL-90 (the somatization,obsessive-compulsive disorder,depression,anxiety and psychosis dimensions) scores of the functional constipation group differed significantly from those of the HCs.The intro-extraversion and neurosis dimensions of the EPQ were also significantly different.There was no significant difference in response time or latency between the two groups.The ERP results showed that the P300 amplitudes at the F3 and F7 sites were significantly different between the functional constipation group and the HCs.But there was no significant difference in P300 latencies at F3 or F7 between the two groups.Conclusions The findings suggest that patients with functional constipation are more susceptible to depression and anxiety,as well as somatization,obsessive-compulsive tendencies and other neurotic personality characteristics.Patients may employ psychological defense mechanisms to avoid the depression and anxiety.The ERP results imply there may be the implicit cognitive dysfunction with emotion in patients with functional constipation.

Objective To compare the efficacy of open microwave ablation and repeat hepatectomy for recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods The clinical data of 75 patients with recurrent small HCC who were admitted to our hospital from January 2007 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.34 received microwave ablation (MWA group) and 41 received repeat hepatectomy (hepatectomy group).The perioperative condition,liver function recovery,the variation of AFP level,mobidities,hospitalization time and overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate were compared.Results The rate of complete elimination to tumor tissue was 100％ and the AFP levels returned to normal within 3 months in both groups.The mean average operation time in MWA group was shorter than that in hepatectomy group [(91 ±33) min vs (156 ±51) min,t =-6.399 5,P =0.000].The blood loss in MWA group was smaller than that in hepatectomy group [(87 ±62) ml vs (254 ± 134) ml,t =-6.691 5,P =0.000].Patients in PFRA group had a shorter hospital stay [(7.5 ± 2.2) d vs (11.3 ± 2.7) d,t =-6.588 8,P =0.000].The mobidities of the MWA group and hepateetomy group were 2.9％ (1/34) and 22.0％ (9/41),respectively (x2 =5.812 7,P =0.016).The overall survive rate of 1,3 and 5-year were 88.1％,68.8％ and 46.1％ in the MWA group,and 86.1％,71.5％ and 50.2％ in the hepatectomy group (x2 =0.16,P =0.692).The disease free survival rate of 1,3 and 5-year were 67.1％,38.2％ and 16.1％ in the MWA group,and 64.4％,45.5％ and 23.6％ in the hepatectomy group (x2 =0.03,P =0.870).Conclusions MWA can achieve survival benefits equivalent to hepatectomy for recurrent small HCC,and it is less traumatic.

Objective To evaluate the assistant diagnostic value of low dose CT in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) based on ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) SPECT imaging.Methods One hundred and two patients with clinical suspected PE had been enrolled for this retrospective study.The final diagnosis of PE was made according to the 2008 guidelines of European Society of Cardiology (ESC).All patients underwent V/Q SPECT/CT (Hawkeye 4,GE).The imaging findings from low dose CT lung window were used for differential diagnoses of abnormal regions in SPECT imaging.The diagnostic efficiency of V/Q SPECT alone was compared with that of V/Q SPECT combined with low dose CT scan.Crosstabsx2 test was performed using SPSS 13.0 software.Results Twenty-nine patients (28.43％,29/102) were finally diagnosed as PE.V/Q SPECT alone had a sensitivity of 93.10％ (27/29),a specificity of 90.41％ (66/73),and an accuracy of 91.18％ (93/102).With additional diagnostic information from low dose CT,the diagnostic specificity increased to 95.89％ (70/73,X2 =1.72,P ＞ 0.05 ),and the accuracy increased to 95.10％ (97/102,x2 =1.23,P ＞ 0.05) though the sensitivity remained the same.Conclusion Imaginginformation from low dose CT in hybrid SPECT/CT may enhance V/Q diagnostic accuracy for PE.

Atrial Fibrillation/surgery* ; Cardiac Tamponade/surgery* ; Catheter Ablation/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Radiofrequency Ablation ; Treatment Outcome ; Vena Cava, Superior/surgery*

BACKGROUND: One of mechanisms involved in treating cerebral ischemia with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) implantation is paracrine action. However, few studies have reported this mechanism.OBJECTIVE: To observe the inhibitory effect of BMMSCs paracrine action on apoptosis and its mechanism after cerebral ischemia. METHODS: BMMSCs were isolated from rats with adherent culture. Rat cerebral ischemia model was established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion. A total of 24 rats were divided into 4 groups, with 6 animals in each group. Cell implantation medication group: rats were received U0126 medication after BMMSCs implantation; Non-implantation medication group: rats were received U0126 medication after PBS injection; Cell implantation control group: received solvent medication after BMMSCs implantation; Non-implantation control group: received solvent medication after PBS injection. At 7 days after operation, the expressions of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and p-ERK1/2 protein were measured by Western blot analysis, and the apoptosis cells in the area of ischemic penumbra and cortex were examined by TUNEL. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The VEGF protein content in the brain tissue was significantly greater in the cell implantation groups than that of the non-implantation group, with increased p-ERK1/2 and decreased apoptosis cells. The expression of p-ERK1/2 was down-regulated in rats which were administrated U0126 while the number of the apoptosis cells was increased, but the VEGF protein expression had no statistical difference. It suggested that BMMSCs can paracrine VEGF in the striatum of brain and play an inhibitory effect on apoptosis in the ischemia area via activating ERK1/2.

OBJECTIVETo find out the reasons of extensor weakness after total knee arthroplasty for severe flexion deformity knees, and the rehabilitation method.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to January 2004, 30 knees (20 cases) with severe flexion deformity were performed total knee arthroplasty with PS prosthesis, and the follow up were at least 6 months (6 to 40 months, average 18 months). All cases in this group were classified with the extensor force grade and were given certain exercises according to the grade. The HSS scores, extensor force, residual flexion deformity, satisfaction scores and rang of motion were recorded pre-operation and 3 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and then every year when follow up.

RESULTSAt the end point of the 6 months follow up, all items increased significantly, the average HSS score was 75.9 degrees, the average extensor force was 4.1, 8 knees among the group remained an average flexion deformity with 7.4 degrees, all patients were satisfied with the operation, and the average range of motion was 87.7 degrees.

CONCLUSIONSQuadriceps atrophy for disuse and the relative extensor mechanism excess are the main cause of extensor deficit, correct strength evaluation and individual exercise project are critical principle for successful rehabilitation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Knee Joint ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Weakness ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Postoperative Complications ; rehabilitation

Objective To examine characteristics of patients with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels higher and lower than the normal limit.Methods During January 2012 to January 2015,116 patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases were selected to study,according to the patient's blood urea nitrogen level,all the patients were divided into high BUN group and low BUN group,and there were 76 patients in the high BUN group,and 40 patients in low BUN group,compared the biochemical indices,gastrointestinal bleeding forrest grading and disease severity of the two groups,and univariate logistic regression analysis.Results The serum white blood cell count,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine and glycated hemoglobin levels in patients of high BUN group [(9 593±5 012)× 102/μl,368.1±162.3 mg/L,11.2±3.7 mg/L and 6.38±1.08％] were significantly higher than that of low BUN patients [(6 804 ± 2 087) × 102/μl,121.0 ± 39.3 mg/L,8.1 ± 3.2 mg/L and 5.51 ± 0.42 ％] (t =3.645～12.659,all P＜0.05),and the hemoglobin levels (87.3±35.1 g/L) of the patients in high BUN group was significantly lower than that of the low BUN patients (108.0 ± 31.2 g/L) (t=3.252,P=0.032).Logistic regression analysis showed the presence of hemoglobin and glycosylated hemoglobin levelst of wo groups of patients was significantly different (P＜0.05),and showed that showed the highest correlation with BUN.Gastrointestinal bleeding forrest hierarchical data of the two groups of patients showed no significant difference (P＞0.05).The proportion of patients with gastric ulcers of high BUN patients was significantly higher than that of the low BUN patients (x2 =39.655,P=0.000).Conclusion Patients with high expression of serum urea nitrogen had more severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding,and it is worthy of attention in the process of clinical diagnostic.

Fourteen compounds were isolated from Dalbergia odoriferae and purified by repeated column chromatography on silica and sephadex LH-20 gel and structurally identified by spectral analysis. These compounds were identified as 4, 9-dimethoxy-3-hydroxypterocarpan (1), medicarpin (2), 2', 4', 5-trihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavone (3), 2', 3', 7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavan (4), formononetin (5), 3, 8-dihydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan (6), koparin (7), 3-hydroxy-9-methoxypterocarp-6a-ene (8), 2'-hydroxyformononetin (9), stevenin (10), 2', 7-dihydroxy-4', 5'-dimethoxyisoflavone (11), lyoniresinol (12), 2, 4-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-benzophenone (13) and neokhriol A (14). Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Antibacterial activity assay showed that compound 4 had inhibitory effect on Ralstonia solanacearum.
Anisoles ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzophenones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chromatography ; methods ; Dalbergia ; chemistry ; Dextrans ; Gels ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Naphthalenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Pterocarpans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ralstonia solanacearum ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Silica Gel