Objective To explore the pain beliefs and perceptions held by patients with digestive system cancer.Methods 10 patients with digestive system cancer were interviewed for exploration of their pain beliefs and perceptions.The data were collected using in-depth interview and analyzed with category approach.Results The beliefs and perceptions held by patients with digestive system cancer were presented as:negative pain beliefs,negative emotional perceptions,view social support as important resources.Conclusions The pain beliefs and perceptions in digestive system cancer pain patients are negative.Clinical medical workers should pay attention to the role of beliefs in pain management,and help patients build positive pain beliefs through utilizing social support resources effectively.

Objective To observed the impact of selenium supplementation therapy on the thyroid perioxidase antibody(TPO-Ab) levels and serum oxidative stress[malondialdehyde(MDA, glutathione peroxidase(GPx), and superoxide dismutase(SOD)] in patients with Hashimoto′s thyroiditis. Methods 79 patients with Hashimoto′s thyroiditis were randomly divided into trial group(n=44) and placebo group(n=35) .The double-blind treatment was for 24 weeks. The thyroid hormone levels, serum TPO-Ab levels, and oxidative stress indexes(MDA, GPx, and SOD) of both groups were detected before and after treatment. Results (1)There was no change of thyroid hormone levels either before or after treatments of both groups(P>0.05). (2)TPO-Ab of the trial group decreased significantly after the treatment(P<0.05). While the placebo group has little change. Group with TPO-Ab≤200 IU/ml and the course≤1 year manifested the most obvious declines by 29.98% and 26.63% respectively. (3)The oxidative stress level of trial group significantly decreased after 24 weeks. There was significantly positive correlation between the oxidative stress indexes and TPO-Ab. However the placebo group was with little change. Conclusion Selenium supplementation may reduce the level of TPO-Ab titers and oxidative stress in patients with Hashimoto′s thyroiditis, especially for those with lower antibody titers and short course.

The present study was designed to investigate the role of protein kinase A (PKA) and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) in the stimulating effect of adenosine on the basolateral 50 pS K(+) channels in the thick ascending limb (TAL) of the rat kidney. Under the anatomic microscope, the TAL was dissected. The current of 50 pS K(+) channels were recorded by patch clamp technology. The protein expression of phosphorylated PKA and phosphorylated PLA(2) were examined by Western blot. The results showed that cyclohexyladenosine (CHA), an analog of adenosine, increased the 50 pS K(+) channel activity (P < 0.05). In the presence of H8, an antagonist of PKA, CHA did not affect the 50 pS K(+) channel activity. In the presence of AACOCF3 (an antagonist of PLA(2)), CHA did not further increase the 50 pS K(+) channel activity. CHA increased phosphorylation level of PKA, whereas inhibited phosphorylation of PLA(2) in the TAL of the rat kidney (P < 0.01). Furthermore, after blocking the PLA(2) with AACOCF3, CHA still increased the expression of phosphorylated PKA. On the contrary, CHA did not obviously change the expression of phosphorylated PLA(2) after H8 pretreatment. The results suggest that the stimulation of basolateral 50 pS K(+) channels by CHA is mediated by the activation of PKA followed by the inhibition of PLA(2) in the TAL of the rat kidney.
Adenosine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Arachidonic Acids ; pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Phospholipases A2 ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo develop a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for fetal SRY gene identification using cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 pregnant women and cell-free DNA was extracted by the phenol/chloroform method from plasma. The nested PCR was carried out to amplify the fragment of SRY gene by two sets of PCR primer pairs. Direct sequencing analysis was then performed on the PCR product.

RESULTSAmong the 17 women bearing male fetuses, SRY sequences were detected in 15 plasma samples after nested PCR amplification, while none of the 13 women bearing female fetuses had the positive results. The accuracy and sensitivity were 93.3% (28/30) and 88.2% (15/17), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe phenol/chloroform extraction for fetal DNA in maternal plasma was effective and simple. And the nested PCR amplification of SRY sequence is a convenient and low-cost approach for the non-invasive early prenatal diagnosis of sex-linked inheritant diseases.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Fetus ; Genes, sry ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; blood ; genetics ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To explore the features of patients with acute leukemia (AL) in Hematology Department of Shenzhen Hospital affliated to Beijing University during the past six years. Methods The data of the 1056 acute leukemia dignosed in our department between 2002-2007 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results The male patients was predominant (male/female ratio was 1.78). The number of patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML) was higher than that of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (AML/ALL ratio was 1.85). Most of the AML patients were young adult (65 %) and elderly ALL patients were very rare(1.33 %). AL cases were tended to increase gradually by year. The ratio of treatment-related AL in Shenzhen was lower than that reported literature in other countries. The major cause of the treatment-related AL were chemotherapy/radiotherapy and psoriasis treated with bimolane. Conclusion Some of the features of AL patients in China were further confirmed and some new features were also found in this study. These changes should be demonstrated by the next national epidemiology survey of leukemia.

To investigate the distribution of variant genotypes of Fc gamma receptor IIIa (Fc gamma R IIIa) in healthy Chinese population of Zhengzhou city, genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of healthy donators. The genotypes of Fc gamma R IIIa-158 were determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 137 healthy people in Zhengzhou city. The results showed that frequencies of variant genotypes FF, VV and VF were 42.3%, 48.9% and 8.8% respectively. The distribution of Fc gamma R IIIa-158 in healthy Chinese population of Zhengzhou city was polymorphic and different from that of African Americans (AA) and Caucasian Americans (CA).
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Genotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, IgG/*genetics ; Variation (Genetics)

Objective To investigate the proportion and function of CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ regulatory T cells (CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ Tr)in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion(URSA).Methods(1)Proportion measurement:the proportion of CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ Tr cells in peripheral blood was measured by double-label flow cytometric analysis.The samples were taken from 15 URSA women,15 normal non-pregnancy women and 13 normal pregnancy women.(2)Function measurement:CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ Tr ceils and CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ T ce]ls were extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes by the microbeads separation.The purity of CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ Tr cells and CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ T cells was measured by flow cytometry.The growth inhibitory effect of CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ Tr cells on CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ T cells was assessed in vitro.Results The proportion of CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ Tr cells was decreased significantly in URSA women(6.9?1.8)% than that in normal non-pregnancy women[(10.8?1.1)%] (P0.05).Conclusion The results suggest that decrease in proportion and function of CD_4~+ CD_(25)~+ Tr cells may be associated with URSA.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the influence of optimal codon usage on the expression levels and immunogenicity of DNA vaccines, encoding the human papillomavirus type 6b (HPV 6b) E7 gene.

METHODSThe full length E7 gene of HPV 6b was modified to substitute human preferred codon for rarely used codon, and three mutations were introduced into the pRB binding site of HPV 6b E7 to eliminate its transformation potential. The codon optimized and mutated E7 gene (hu-mE7) were cloned into the Kpn I and EcoR I site of the pcDNA3 mammalian expression vector, the in vitro expression of the hu-mE7 gene and the immunogenicity of hu-mE7 DNA vaccine were compared with the wt-E7gene.

RESULTSThe in vitro expression of pcDNA3-hu-mE7 was much higher than the classical wt-E7 plasmid in monkey COS-1 cell line. Mice immunized intramuscularly with the pcDNA3-hu-mE7 showed that the codon modified E7 gene induced a stronger IFN-gamma ratios than the wt-E7 gene.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that the optimized codon usage contributes to the enhancement of gene expression and immunogenicity of HPV 6b E7 gene.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Codon ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Viral ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Mice ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Transfection ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; Viral Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Psychotherapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of baicalin on rat brain glioma.

METHODSDeep brain glioma models were established by injection of glioma cell line C6 cells into the brain of Wistar rats. The rats at 7 days after modeling were randomly divided into tumor control group (0.9% NaCl solution 30 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) gavage)and experimental groups. The experimental rats was divided into 3 groups: low dose group (50 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)), middle dose group (100 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)) and high dose group (200 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)), given the baicalin by gavage. Pathological and electron microscopic changes were observed. The expressions of p53 and Bcl-2 were determined by immunohistochemistry, and the changes of MRI, the average survival time and body weight of the rats in each group after treatments were analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the tumor diameter and volume of high dose group rats before sacrifice were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and the survival time was significantly prolonged (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemistry revealed strong positive expression rate of mutant p53 (84.47 ± 3.74)% and moderately positive rate (47.28 ± 2.38)% in the control group, significantly higher than that in the negative group (12.91 ± 1.07)% (P < 0.01). The positive rate of mutant p53 of the high dose group was (46.42 ± 2.19)%, significantly lower than that of the control group (84.47 ± 3.74)% (P < 0.01). The expression rate of Bcl-2 in the control group was strongly positive (86.51 ± 4.17)% and moderate positive (48.19 ± 2.11)%, significantly higher than that of the negative group (10.36 ± 1.43)% (P < 0.01). Electron microscopy revealed that baicalin caused damages of the cell nuclei and organelles in the gliomas.

CONCLUSIONSBaicalin has significant inhibitory effect on glioma in vivo, and its mechanism may be related to cell apoptosis induced by down-regulated expression of mutant p53, but not related with Bcl-2 expression.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Down-Regulation ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism