Objective To analyze post-traumatic growth of Chinese caregivers of dementia patients and to explore the caregivers′positive and potential energy, in order to formulate more perfect nursing intervention measures. Method Useing phenomenological method of qualitative research in selecting 6 dementia caregivers in-depth interviews to understand possible posttraumatic growth. Result Five major themes were found: changes in individual cognitive, changes in relations with others, promote their children′s education, reflections and concerns on status of pension-related changes in philosophy of life. Conclusions Dementia caregivers also have the positive performance of posttraumatic growth, in addition to the negative experience. Clinical nurses should actively explore the potential and power from the growth perspective. This is conducive to the caregivers with more health caring for life, so as to improve the quality of care, and ultimately improve the quality of life.

· AlM:To analyze the association between the macular thickness and emmetropic, low myopic, moderate myopic and highly myopic eyes.
·METHODS:The 276 teenagers (276 eyes) between 18~28 years treated in our hospital from January, 2013 to May, 2014 were selected, whose corrective visual acuity was≥1.0 and intraocular preasure was ≤21mmHg and who were willing to participate in this research.Forty-nine emmetropic, 72 low myopic, 104 moderate myopic and 51 highly myopic eyes were measured by optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) to detect the central subfield thickness, bitamporal, superior, lateral and inferior region thickness of inner and outer region, average thickness of retinal macula, foveal thickness and retinal volume.The thickness of different parts of macula lutea was measured and statistically compared among emmetropic, low myopic, moderate myopic and highly myopic eyes.
· RESULTS: The central subfield thickness of emmetropic, low myopic, moderate myopic and highly myopic eyes were (225.38±20.97), (230.97±19.15), (227.01±16.92), (231.91 ±18.97 )μm. The average thickness of retinal macula, of emmetropic, low myopic, moderate myopic and highly myopic eyes were (280.92±12.71), (278.15± 11.90), (270.05±12.07), (267.93±11.08) μm.There were no significant differences of center thickness (F=1.253, P=0.291) and central subfield thickness ( F=1.034, P=0.378) between emmetropic, low myopic, moderate myopic and highly myopic eyes.The macular thickness of inner and outer region in moderate myopic eyes was significantly less than that in emmetropic eyes, and there was significant difference (P<0.05).Comparison between low myopic, moderate myopic and highly myopic eyes was carried out and macular thickness of all regions of inner and outer region in moderate myopic group was significantly increased, and there was significant difference (P<0.05).There was no significant difference when compared with the macular thickness of inner and outer region of the highly myopic group (P>0.05).
· CONCLUSlON: ln low myopic eyes of teenagers, the center macular thickness do not become thinner. However, the macular thickness of inner and outer region is thinner than that of emmetropic eyes.Furthermore, with the increase of the degree of the myopia, the amount of macular thinner gradually decreases from outer region to inner region.

Objective:To establish the quality standard for two effective components in extractum glycyrrhizae capsules. Methods:Radix glycyrrhizae was identified by a TLC method. The contents of liquiritin and ammonium glycyrrhizinate in extractum glycyrrhizae capsules were determined by HPLC. An Inertsil C18 (150 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5μm) column was used. The mobile phase consisted of ace-tonitrile (A)-0. 2％ phosphoric acid (B) (0-8 min: 20％A-20％A;8-34 min: 20％A-50％A;34-35 min: 50％A-100％A;35-40 min:100％A-20％A) at a flow rate of 1. 0 ml·min-1 . The detection wavelength was at 237 nm under 25℃. Results: The spots in TLC were clear. Liquiritin showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0. 0020-0. 1000 mg·ml-1(r=0. 9995). The aver-age recovery was 100. 29％, and the RSD was 2. 94％(n=6). Ammonium glycyrrhizinate showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0. 0020-0. 1000 mg·ml-1(r=0. 9998). The average recovery was 101. 46％, and the RSD was 2. 33％(n=6). Conclu-sion:The method is simple,reliable and reproducible, which can be used for the quality control of the preparation.

Through introducing mutations into ribosomes by obtaining spontaneous drug resistance of microorganisms, ribosome engineering technology is an effective approach to develop mutant strains that overproduce secondary metabolites. In this study, ribosome engineering was used to improve the yield of butenyl-spinosyns produced by Saccharopolyspora pogona by screening streptomycin resistant mutants. The yields of butenyl-spinosyns were then analyzed and compared with the parent strain. Among the mutants, S13 displayed the greatest increase in the yield of butenyl-spinosyns, which was 1.79 fold higher than that in the parent strain. Further analysis of the metabolite profile of S13 by mass spectrometry lead to the discovery of Spinosyn α1, which was absent from the parent strain. DNA sequencing showed that there existed two point mutations in the conserved regions of rpsL gene which encodes ribosomal protein S12 in S13. The mutations occurred a C to A and a C to T transversion mutations occurred at nucleotide pair 314 and 320 respectively, which resulted in the mutations of Proline (105) to Gultamine and Alanine (107) to Valine. It also demonstrated that S13 exhibited genetic stability even after five passages.
Genetic Engineering ; Macrolides ; metabolism ; Point Mutation ; Ribosomal Proteins ; genetics ; Ribosomes ; metabolism ; Saccharopolyspora ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy in the treatment of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome between floating-needle therapy and conventional acupuncture on the basis of rehabilitation training.

METHODSOne hundred cases of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome were randomized into a floating-needle group and an acupuncture group, 50 cases in each one. The passive and positive rehabilitation training was adopted in the two groups. Additionally, in the floating-needle group, the floating-needle therapy was used. The needle was inserted at the site 5 to 10 cm away from myofasical trigger point (MTrP), manipulated and scattered subcutaneously, for 2 min continuously. In the acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture was applied at Jianqian (EX-UE), Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14), etc. The treatment was given once every two days, 3 times a week, and 14 days of treatment were required. The shoulder hand syndrome scale (SHSS), the short form McGill pain scale (SF-MPQ) and the modified Fugl-Meyer motor function scale (FMA) were used to evaluate the damage severity, pain and motor function of the upper limbs before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSSHSS score, SF-MPQ score and FMA score were improved significantly after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01), and the improvements in the floating-needle group were superior to those in the acupuncture group (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 94.0% (47/50) in the floating-needle group, which was better than 90.0% (45/50) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe floating-needle therapy combined with rehabilitation training achieves a satisfactory efficacy on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome, which is better than the combined therapy of conventional acupuncture and rehabilitation training.

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of tazarotene against active psoriasis vulgaris.

METHODSA randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 43 patients with active psoriasis vulgaris, who were divided into tazarotene and control groups. Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) mRNA in active psoriatic lesions before and 14 days after tazarotene treatment was detected by in situ hybridization.

RESULTSPML mRNA expression was detected not only in the basal layer (86.96%), but also in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis in the manner of focal expression (78.26%). After tazarotene treatment, virtually no PML mRNA expression could be detected in the psoriatic lesions (8.69% in the basal layer and 4.35% in the suprabasal layers). PML mRNA expression in the control group underwent no obvious changes during the observation.

CONCLUSIONSTazarotene may inhibit abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes through down-regulating PML gene expression in active psoriatic epidermis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; genetics ; Epidermis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Keratolytic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Nicotinic Acids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Psoriasis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of quercetin on the proliferation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of rats after focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODSAn adult rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established by placement of an intraluminal filament at the origin of the MCA. Quercetin was administered intraperitoneally in the rats at a dose of 50 mg/kg every 3 days starting at 6 h after MCAO, and BrdU (50 mg/kg daily) was also injected intraperitoneally starting at 4 h after MCAO. BrdU-positive cells in the SVZ were counted at 7, 14 and 21 days after MCAO.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operated group, the rats in the ischemic model group showed significantly increased BrdU-positive cells in the ipsilateral SVZ 7 days after MCAO, reaching the peak level on day 14 and beginning to decrease on day 21 (P<0.05). The number of ipsilateral BrdU-positive cells in quercetin group was significantly greater than that in the model group on days 7, 14 and 21 (P<0.05), and maintained the high level on day 21.

CONCLUSIONQuercetin can maintain a high level of neural stem cell proliferation in the SVZ after focal cerebral ischemia in adult rats.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cerebral Ventricles ; pathology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; pathology

AIMTo investigate the toxic response in auditory cortex of guinea pigs caused by cis-platinum (DDP), and the protective role of melatonin in this effect.

METHODSCis-platinum and melatonin were injected peritoneally. LDH, MDA, NO in the auditory cortex were detected by spectrophotometeR.

RESULTSThe body weight of the guinea pigs was diminished by peritoneal injection of Cis-platinum for 7 days (P < 0.01). Peritoneal injection of Cis-platinum induced the increased leakage of LDH (P < 0.05 vs injection of normal saline). This effect was reduced by injection of MT (P < 0.05). The content of MDA in the auditory cortex was also increased because of injection of Cis-platinumv for 7 days (P < 0.01) and MT reduced this effect (P < 0.05). The change of NO in the auditory cortex was not statistically significant after injection of Cis-platinum or Cis-platinum with MT.

CONCLUSIONPeritoneal injection of Cis-platinum could destroy neurons in the auditory cortex. This effect could be reduced by melatonin by an anti-free radials mechanism.

Animals ; Auditory Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the best time of intratympanic dexamethasone injection to treat sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) as salvage therapy so that to improve the curative efficacy on sudden deafness at the utmost. METHOD: A total of 192 patients with SSNHL were included in this study, among whom 63 cases received the systemic steroid therapy throughout the study, while the other ones were treated with systemic steroid as initial treatment and were given intratympanic steroid administration as salvage treatment starting at different time point. The salvage treatment started on the 3rd day after the beginning of the initial treatment for 29 cases, on the 7th day for 38 cases, on the 14th day for 43 cases, and 1 month later for 19 cases. All the patients were followed up for 2 months. RESULT: The recovery rates and total effective rates showed no statistically significant difference between the patients received only systemic steroid therapy and the ones received intratympanic steroid administration on the 3rd, 7th day and 1 month later after the initial treatment. The recovery rate and total effective rate exhibited statistically significant difference between the patients received intratympanic steroid administration since the 14th day after the initial treatment and the ones received only systemic steroid therapy, with the numerical value of P 0. 037 and 0. 034, respectively. CONCLUSION (1) As an initial management plan, the curative effects. between the intratympanic steroid administration and the systemic steroid therapy were not significantly different. (2) As a salvage treatment, intratympanic steroid was a better choice for patients who have not completely recover from ISSNHL after failure of initial management with systemic steroid only. (3) The best time point of salvage treatment with intratympanic steroid was about 2 weeks after initial management with systemic steroid.
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; drug therapy ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injection, Intratympanic ; Salvage Therapy ; Steroids ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanic Membrane

BACKGROUNDThe decrease of surfactant protein (SP) secreted by the alveolar type II cell is one of the important causes of limiting air of pulmonary emphysema. However, the SP-A gene and protein changes in this disease are rarely studied. This study was undertaken to investigate alterations in SP-A gene activity and protein, and to explore their roles in the pathogenesis of emphysematous changes.

METHODSTwenty Wistar rats were divided randomly into a normal control group (n = 10) and a cigarette smoking (CS) + lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (n = 10). Ultra-structural changes were observed under an electron microscope. The number of cells positive for SP-A was measured by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression and protein level of SP-A in the lung tissues were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot separately. The protein level of SP-A in lavage fluid was determined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe number of cells positive for SP-A of the CS + LPS group (0.35 +/- 0.03) was lower than that of the blank control group (0.72 +/- 0.06, P < 0.05). The level of SP-A in the lung tissues of rats in the CS + LPS group (0.2765 +/- 0.0890) was lower than that in the blank control group (0.6875 +/- 0.1578, P < 0.05). The level of SP-A in the lavage fluid of rats in the CS + LPS group (0.8567 +/- 0.1458) was lower than that in the blank control group (1.3541 +/- 0.2475, P < 0.05). The lung tissues of rats in the CS + LPS group showed an approximate increase (0.4-fold) in SP-A mRNA levels relative to beta-actin mRNA (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe changes of SP-A may be related to emphysematous changes in the lung. And cigarette smoke and LPS alter lung SP-A gene activity and protein homeostasis.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Emphysema ; metabolism ; pathology ; Homeostasis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A ; analysis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar