ObjectiveTo evaluated the effect of swallowing training and acupuncture on dysphagia in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.MethodsThirty-eight post-radiotherapeutic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were divided into 2 groups: comprehensive group (n=20) were treated with swallowing training and acupuncture therapy, acupuncture group (n=18) were treated with acupuncture only. The patients were assessed with water-swallow test and videofluoroscopy (VFS) before and after treatment.ResultsBoth groups improved their score of water-swallow test after treatment (P<0.01), but the scores of comprehensive group were better than that of acupuncture group(P<0.05).Under the VFS, the cure rate was 70.0% or 38.9% respectively(P=0.089). ConclusionSwallowing training can improve the swallow ability of bulbar palsy patients.

Nutritional supplies & biodiversities of deep-sea microorganisms and correlative methodologies were introduced here in an ecological point of view, and development of their natural products was prospective in an applied point of view.

Through scale-up cultivation of Eriobotrya japonica suspension cells using WAVE bioreactor, the cell growth and ursolic acid (UA) accumulation were studied. The comparison test was carried out in the flask and the reactor with cell dry weight (DW) and UA content as evaluation indexes. The culture medium, DW and UA content were compared in 1 L and 5 L working volumes of bioreactor. The orthogonal test with main actors of inoculation amount, speed and angle of rotation was developed to find the optimal combination, in 1 L working volume of bioreactor. DW of the cell growth and the UA content in bioreactor were higher than those of the shaker by 105.5% and 27.65% respectively. In bioreactor, the dynamic changes of elements in the fluid culture, the dry weight of the cell growth and the UA content in 1 L and 5 L working volumes were similar. Inoculation of 80 g, rotational speed of 26 r · min(-1), and angle of 6 ° was the optimal combination, and the cell biomass of 19.01 g · L(-1) and the UA content of 27.750 mg · g(-1) were achieved after 100 h cultivation in 1 L working volume of bioreactor. WAVE Bioreactor is more suitable than flasks for the E. japonica cell suspension culture, and culture parameters can be achieved from 1 L to 5 L amplification.
Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Cell Culture Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Eriobotrya ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; metabolism

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Models, Biological ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Physical Endurance ; physiology ; Reference Values

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of brain wave-biofeedback on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Methods29 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder used VBFB3000 Brain Wave-Biofeedback system to control the 4～8 Hz brain wave and activate the 12～16 Hz wave twice a week.Results84.6% children primarily with attention deficit became normal,as well as 100% with hyperactivity,91.6% with mixed appearing.ConclusionBrain Wave-Biofeedback is effective on any types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Carotid Artery, Internal ; diagnostic imaging ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Extremities ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Thromboembolism ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) on bcl-2 and TGFbeta1 expression in rat testes.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups at random: Group A (normal control), Group B (fed on 10(-8) mol/L PBC), Group C (feb on 10(-7) mol/L) and Group D (feb on 10(-6) mol/L). After three months, all the rats were killed, the animal model established, and observations made on the expression of bcl2 and TGFbeta1 in the rat testis using the optical microscope and immunohistochemical techniques.

RESULTSThe damage to the structure of the testis was related to the dosage of PCB: the higher the dodage, the more serious the damage. PCB induced the expression of bcl-2 and TGFbeta1. The TGFbeta1 expression was significantly higher in the highest dosage group than in others (P < 0.01 ), and the bcl-2 expression was dramatically higher in Group C than in other groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPCB can cause injury in rat testes.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis

INTRODUCTIONIntravenous thrombolysis has been shown to improve outcome after acute cerebral infarction if given within 3 hours of symptom onset. There are no data in Singapore on the timing of hospital presentation after acute cerebral infarction as well as factors and reasons for delayed presentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODSAs intravenous thrombolysis has recently been licensed for use in acute cerebral infarction in Singapore, we studied 100 consecutive acute cerebral infarction admitted to the Singapore General Hospital for timing of hospital presentation, reasons associated with delay in presentation and hypothetical acceptance of intravenous thrombolysis.

RESULTSOnly 9% of patients presented to hospital within 2 hours of symptom onset. Factors associated with hospital presentation within 2 hours were a large stroke and lack of pre-hospital consultation. Failure to recognise the severity of symptoms and inability to seek medical attention unaided were the 2 most common reasons for delayed presentation. One-third of patients or their relatives hypothetically would accept intravenous thrombolysis, suggesting that a thrombolysis service is feasible at the Singapore General Hospital. However, it would be hindered by the low proportion of patients who present early to hospital after symptom onset.

CONCLUSIONOur results support the need for a public education programme to highlight the identification of stroke symptoms and the need to present to hospital as soon as possible after the onset of stroke symptoms.

Acute Disease ; Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; statistics & numerical data ; Prospective Studies ; Singapore ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between tobacco smoking, drinking and p53 alteration in esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSLiterature on the relationship between p53 alteration in esophageal carcinoma and tobacco smoking, drinking through Meta-analysis were reviewed.

RESULTSIn 14 selected papers related to tobacco smoking, pooled odds ratio (OR) of tobacco smoking with P53 overexpression and p53 alteration were 1.99 (95% CI: 1.30- 3.06) and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.13 - 2.37), respectively (P < 0.05). Pooled OR of tobacco smoking with p53 mutation was 1.11 (95% CI: 0.47 - 2.76) (P > 0.05). In 11 selected papers on alcohol drinking, pooled OR of drinking with P53 overexpression, p53 mutation and p53 alteration were 1.30 (95% CI: 0.83 - 2.04), 1.13 (95% CI: 0.67 - 1.90) and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.87 - 1.72) respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were significant relations between tobacco smoking and p53 alteration while there were no significant relations between alcohol drinking and p53 alteration.

Alcohol Drinking ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, p53 ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Catheter Ablation ; Child ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed