BACKGROUND:Neural stem cel transplantation provides an important way to treat sequela of traumatic brain injury, but the timing for treatment is inconclusive.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the clinical effect of neural stem cel transplantation in the treatment of sequela of traumatic brain injury and the choice of the best treatment time.
METHODS: Totaly 178 patients with sequela of traumatic brain injury who underwent neural stem cel transplantation were divided into three groups as per the timing for neural stem cel transplantation: group A (with 6 months after injury,n=60), group B (6-12 months after injury,n=59), and group C (over 12 months after injury,n=59). Improvement in clinical symptoms and scores on function independent measure (FIM) were recorded and compared in the three groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The total effective rate of group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P < 0.05). FIM scores were significantly improved in the three groups after cel transplantation (P < 0.05). At 3 months after the fourth transplantation, the FIM score in the group A was significantly higher than that in the other two groups, and the incidence of adverse reactions in the group A was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that neural stem cel transplantation at different timing can al harvest certain clinical effects, but the best timing for neural stem cel transplantation is within 6 months after injury.

BackgroundIdiopathic epiretinal membranes(ERMs) is a common eye disease condition that leads to progressive decline of visual acuity. Studying the risk factors relating to this disease will shed light on its pathogenesis and allow opthalmologists to screen the affected individuals among the high-risk population and prepare for prevention and management strategies. ObjectiveThis survey was to investigate the risk factors of idiopathic ERMs in the population undergoing routine health check-ups. MethodsThe clinical data of idiopathic ERMs was obtained from the population of routine health check-ups in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from November 2009 to October 2010. The examination outcomes were compared between the individuals with and without idiopathic ERMs. The demographic and clinical factors associated with idiopathic ERMs were analyzed and assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Result A total of 27 400 people were included in the survey and idiopathic ERMs were diagnosed in 76 cases. No obvious eye complaint was obtained from the idiopathic ERMs. The number of people affected with idiopathic ERMs was 12 ( 12/11 659 ) in the below 40 years group, 21 (21/4595) in the 51-60 years group and 32 (32/2544) in the over 60 years group. Hypertension, diabetes, diedyslipidemia, renal function insufficiency ,and cataract were found in 42％ ,5％ ,66％ ,6％ and 8％ of the patients, respectively. The univariate logistic regression analyses revealed that significant correlations were found between age,hypertension,hyperlipidemia and history of cataract( P＜0. 01 ). Multivariate regression models showed that the risk of idiopathic ERMs increased in age of 51-60( OR=2. 5,95％ CI:1. 2-5.4,P=0.02) and over 60 years( OR =7.3,95％ CI:3.4-15.6 ,P＜0.01 ) and patients suffering from hyperlipidemia ( OR--2. 1,95％ CI:1. 3-3.5, P＜0. 01 ). ConclusionsOver the age of 50 years and hyperlipidemia are primary risk factors of idiopathic ERM.

Objective To determine the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors that may be used to predict the poor outcome of patients with borderline ovarian tumors. Methods All cases with borderline ovarian tumors treated in the West China Second University Hospital from January 2001 to June 2007 were analyzed retrospectively for elinicopathologic features, treatment parameters and outcome of treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess independent prognostic factors using the logistic regression model. Results The median age of 234 patients was 40. 1 years with a range of 14 to 80 years. There were 101 (43.2%), 94 (40.2% ) , 19 (8.1% ), 12 (5.1%) , 8 (3.4%) cases of serous, mutinous, mixed, endometrioid and clear cell tumors, respectively. Out of 234 cases, 182 (77.8%) underwent laparotomy and 45 ( 19.2% ) underwent laparoscopy. Seven women underwent laparoconversion. Fertility sparing surgery was performed on 119 cases (50.9% ) and radical surgery was performed on 115 cases (49.1% ). Totally 161 (68.8% ) patients had stage Ⅰ , 19 ( 8.1% ) had stage Ⅱ, 54 ( 23.1% ) had stage Ⅲ, and none had stage Ⅳ disease. Sixty-four women received postoperative chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 40 months with a range of 8 to 78 months. Recurrence was found in 26 cases (11.1%) during follow-up, and no tumor-related death was reported. The logistic regression model showed that surgery procedure ( OR=2.304, P=0.024), cyst rupture ( OR=2.213, P=0.038 ), stage ( OR= 4.114, P<0.01 ), microinvasion ( OR=2.291, P=0.046) and peritoneal implants ( OR=2.101, P = 0.016) were the five independent prognostic factors affecting recurrence. Conclusions Although patients with borderline ovarian tumors have an excellent prognosis, the risk of recurrence remains in some patients. Emphasis should be put on these patients with high risk factors and preventive strategies should be taken to prevent their progression.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference between muscle-tension-balance acupuncture and conventional acupuncture in the impacts on motor function and living ability of patients with drop foot and strephenopodia after stroke.

METHODSSeventy cases were randomly divided into a muscle-tension-balance acupuncture group (group A) and a conventional acupuncture group (group B), 35 cases in each one. In group A, firstly the acupuncture of weakening technique was applied to Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3) on the musculus extensor side; secondly, the strengthening technique was adopted at Jiexi (ST 41), Shenmai (BL 62) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) on musculus flexor side. In group B, the conventional needling technique was applied to Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuanzhong (GB 39), etc. The treatment was given once every day in either group, 10 treatments made one session and 3 sessions of treatment were required. The score of Fugl-Meyer motor function of the lower limb on the affected side and Barthel index score were assessed before and after treatment in two groups.

RESULTSAfter treated for 3 sessions, Fugle-Meyer motor function score and Barthel index score of the patients all increased in two groups (all P < 0.01). The results in group A were better than those in group B (both P < 0.05). The improvements were apparent in the 2nd session of treatment in group A (both P < 0.01), which were superior to those in group B (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEither acupuncture therapy can improve the motor function and living ability of patients with drop foot and strephenopodia after stroke. The muscle-tension-balance acupuncture achieves the efficacy quickly and its efficacy is much better.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Stroke ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methylation status of LRP15 gene in acute leukemia (AL) patients and its role in the tumorigenesis.

METHODSThe methylation of LRP15 promoter and first exon of bone marrow mononuclear cells in 73 patients with AL, 10 with chronic leukemia (CL), 9 with hematological benign diseases, and 20 healthy transplantation donors was analyzed by using methylation specific polymerase chain reaction. The methylation of LRP15 gene promoter and first exon in COS7, K562, and HL60 cell lines was also assayed.

RESULTSNo LRP15 gene promoter methylation was detected in COS7 cell line. LRP15 gene promoter was methylated in K562 and HL60 cell lines. No deletion of LRP15 gene was detected in all samples. In nearly all French-American-British leukemia subtypes, we found that frequency of LRP15 methylation in adult patients with AL was 71.23% (52/73). There was no detectable methylation in any of the 20 healthy donors and 8 chronic myeloid leukemia patients. The difference in frequency of LRP15 methylation between AL patients and healthy donors or CL patients (10.00%, 1/10) was significant (P < 0.01). Hypermethylation of LRP15 gene was found in 57.14% (16/28) of newly diagnosed AL patients, 83.33% of relapsed AL patients respectively, which was significantly different (P < 0.05). We also demonstrated LRP15 methylation in 55.56% (5/9) adults with benign hematological diseases.

CONCLUSIONSLRP15 methylation changes are common abnormalities in leukemia. LRP15 is postulated to be a tumor suppressor gene.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; COS Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Primers ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo identify Tongren Dahuoluo pills and Tongren Niuhuangqingxin pills respectively by analysis of IR fingerprint.

METHODBoth drugs were extracted with hexane, ethylether and butanone respectively and then the obtained extracts were measured with the ET-IR spectrometer.

RESULTBy analyzing IR fingerprint of 25 batches of Tongren Dahuoluo pills and 27 batches of Tongren Niuhuangqingxin pills, we found that different batches of the same drug hadstabile and repeatable fingerprint.

CONCLUSIONBy using IR fingerprint, either Tongren Dahuoluo pills or Tongren Niuhuangqingxin pills can be exactly identified. It provides a rapid method for drug identification and quality control.

Drug Combinations ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Fatty Liver ; etiology ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of location and size of acute insular infarct on stroke-related electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and cardiovascular events.

METHODSNinety-nine cases admitted to hospital from October 2007 to June 2009, who were diagnosed as acute middle cerebral artery territory infarct within 48 h after onset and without the history of cardiac diseases, were included in the study. The patients were further divided into three groups: major insular infarct, minor insular infarct and control group, according to the infarct size on MRI diffusion-weighted image. The clinical data, ECG changes and cardiovascular events were compared between left and right insular infarct. Logistic regression was applied to determine the independent risk factors of ECG changes and cardiovascular events.

RESULTLarge artery atherosclerosis was the main cause of acute insular infarct (71.8 %), which was associated with higher NIHSS score compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Comparing the left and right insular infarct, the frequencies of sinus bradycardia and sudden cardiac death were significantly higher in left insular infarct (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), while there was a trend that the frequency of atrial fibrillation was higher in right insular infarct (P = 0.079). With the larger size of insular infarct, the frequency of sinus bradycardia, new atrial fibrillation and sudden cardiac death (P<0.01, P<0.05 and P<0.05, respectively) became much higher. Logistic regression analysis showed that major insular infarct was related to the higher frequency of sinus bradycardia (OR = 4.660, 95% CI: 1.646 ~ 13.195; P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONAcute insular infarct is associated with the stroke-related ECG changes and sudden cardiac death. Left insular infarct is related to sinus bradycardia, possibly due to the enhanced parasympathetic tone. It deserves clinical attention that the incidence of cardiac autonomic disturbance becomes higher with the enlarged insular infarct size.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Infarction ; complications ; physiopathology ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; etiology ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo establish decision tree and logistic regression classification models for diagnosing pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PaCa) and for screening serum biomarkers related to evaluation of different stages and curative effects.

METHODSSerum samples obtained from subjects with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 58) and normal pancreas (n = 51) were applied to strong anion exchange chromatography (SAX2) chips for protein profiling by SELDI-TOF-MS to screen multiple serum biomarkers. Biomarker Wizard software and several statistical methods including algorithm of decision tree, logistic regression and ROC curves were used to construct the decision tree or logistic regression classification models.

RESULTSAverage of 61 mass peaks were detected at the molecular range of 2000-30,000, ten decision trees with the highest cross validation rate were chosen to construct the classification models, which can differentiate PaCa from normal pancreas with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 100%. Logistic regression was used to achieve the AUC (0.976 +/- 0.011, P < 0.001) with a sensitivity of 77.6% - 91.4% and a specificity of 92.2% - 100%. Six mass peaks were combined by logistic regression to achieve the AUC 0.897 +/- 0.054, 0.978 +/- 0.021 and 0.792 +/- 0.107 (P < 0.05) in the three groups (patients at stage I and II, stage II and III, stage III and IV). One mass peak (M/Z 4,016) was screened (P < 0.05) significantly between the preoperative and postoperative PaCa samples and the intensity decreased weeks after operation.

CONCLUSIONDecision tree and logistic regression classification models of the mass peaks screened by SELDI-TOF-MS serum profiling can be used to differentiate pancreatic adenocarcinoma from normal pancreas, and is superior to CA 199. The detected mass peaks are helpful for the evaluation of curative effect and prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Area Under Curve ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; methods ; Decision Trees ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Protein Array Analysis ; Proteomics ; ROC Curve ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Objective To study the relationship between intake of nutrients and bone density in the middle-aged and the old people. Methods Dietary investigation was conducted and bone densities of lumbar 2-4, tuberositas of femur and the neck of femur were measured in 200 healthy subjects who received physical check-up in our hospital. Subjects were distributed into 6 groups including young or middle-aged,pre-old and old groups of men and women.Comparison was conducted within those groups.Results The average intake of protein, carbohydrate and energy per day in old men-group were (71.4±11.7)g,(294.2±54.7)g and (2196.9±311.3) kcal, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in young or middle-aged groups,and the average amounts of protein, carbohydrate and energy intake per day in old men-group were (91.7±19.5)g, (81.8±85.2)g and (2716.0±451.7)kcal, respectively. The average intake of calcium in women-old group was (362.0±167.1)mg, the lowest in the groups. The incidence of abnormal bone densities of lumbar 2-4, the tuberositas of femur and the neck of femur in old men group was significantly higher than those in young or middle-aged men groups (P＜0.05 ) and the preold men group. There were significantly different incidence rates of abnormal bone densities between the 3 women groups (P＜0.05), especially between young or middle-aged groups and in the old women-group(P＜0. 0001 ). The incidences of abnormal bone density in pre-old men group and old men group were significantly lower than those in-pre-old and old women groups. Conclusion The decrease of calcium intake seemed to be one of the factors leading to abnormity of bone density in old women. While the increase of calcium intake served as one of the nutritional factors affecting the bones.