Because of the disunity use of the outcome measures in traditional Chinese medicinal clinical trials, we explain the application of outcome measures in clinical trials on insomnia, provide the international criteria and guideline on outcome reporting. According to analysis of the concrete cases, we in order to improve the misuse of outcome measures of insomnia, to make the selection and reporting of outcome measures follow with the international practices and, to accelerate the development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common malignant solid tumor that occurs during childhood;it has a significant heterogene-ity in clinical symptoms and outcome. NB diagnosis is complicated, and various clinical techniques are often involved in examining im-agery, cellular morphology, immunohistochemical staining, gene and molecule biology, and operation excision scope. Diagnoses are graded based on danger extent, which is indicated by clinical stages and unfavorable prognosis factors. These characteristics are the ba-sis for formulating the corresponding synthetic treatment plan. Limited studies are available on treatment norms for adult cases of NB;such cases are currently diagnosed and treated in accordance with child NB diagnosis and treatment norms. An adult patient diagnosed with NB stage 4 is presented. This patient experienced obvious relief from the symptoms after whole body chemotherapy, with further surgery operation indications. This successful case of multi-disciplinary joint diagnosis and cooperative treatment may provide potential treatment techniques for similar patients.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered as an intermediate clinical state between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The cognitive function and life ability of patients are normal, which have not met the criteria of AD. MCI is considered to be an earlier stage of AD. The clinical effects of AD in the middle or late stage are unsatisfactory. Therefore, studies on MCI have become the hot research areas both at home and abroad. The therapy of MCI is similar to AD. The treatment effect is uncertain. Hence, the understanding and treatment of MCI by TCM reflected TCM features. This article reviewed on TCM understanding of MCI, TCM syndrome differentiation criteria and TCM treatment methods of MCJ. Thus, it was aimed to further understand the dynamic of MCI in order to provide references for improving TCM clinical effects and reducing the incidence of AD.

Visual analogue scales(VAS) is extensively applied on evaluating symptomatic outcome data,such as the pain intensity,but currently most of the management of relevant data can't conform to the statistical standard.This article categories the data measured with VAS and the eligible statistical methods,give a specific explanation about analysis of repeated measures data which may commonly misused in practice.It provides a reference criterion for statistical analysis with VAS in clinical research.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of Tai chi on quality of life of breast cancer patients. Methods Articles from 10 English and Chinese Databases from inception to March 2012 were recalled. 2 researchers independently screened titles and abstracts for eligible trials, methodological quality was assessed according to risk of bias items. Meta-analysis would be used if data available. Results 4 randomized trials with 169 participants were included. All trials had high risk of bias. 2 studies demonstrated significant improvement in Tai chi group for improving shoulder functional capacity which caused by breast cancer. The meta-analysis failed to demonstrate significant effects of Tai chi compared with control interventions (psychological support therapy, standard health care, routine rehabilitation training) in improving quality of life (SMD 0.03, 95%CI: -0.85, 0.91, P=0.94). Conclusion Tai chi is effective on shoulder functional capacity of breast cancer, but not significantly on quality of life.

Objective To investigate the efficiency of transduction of recombinant adenovirus-mediated human endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) into lung tissue by repeated intratracheal transfection in rats.Methods Sixty 3-4 month old male Wistar rats weighing 220-280 g were randomly divided into 2 groups:control group (group C,n =10) and eNOS gene transduction group (group T,n =50).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10％ chloral hydrate 35 mg/kg,tracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated (VT 2.5 ml,RR 60 bpm,FiO2 1.0).Recombinant adenovirus carrying human eNOS gene was given as gift by Professor Gerard from Texas University,Southwest Medical Center.In group T 50 μl of the recombinant adenovirus in concentration of 5 × 109 PFU/ml was instilled into trachea every 5 minutes for 12 times,while in group C equal volume of vector conservation solution was instilled instead.Pulmonary arterial blood samples were obtained at 2,5,7,14 and 21 d after intratracheal transfection (n =10 at each time point) for determination of serum NO concentration.The animals were immediately sacrificed after blood sample collection for determination of expression of eNOS protein in the lung tissue and RNA.The eNOS expression in the trachea,bronchus,lung,liver,spleen and kidney was detected by immuno-histochemistry.Results The serum NO concentrations were significantly higher at all time points in group T than in group C.The eNOS expression was detected in the epithelial cells of trachea and bronchi,and endothelial cells of alveoli and pulmonary blood vessels in group T but not in group C.eNOS expression was not detected in liver,spleen and kidney at 7 d after intratracheal transfection in group T.Conclusion Human eNOS gene mediated by recombinant adenovirus was transducted into rat lung tissue with normal enzyme activity by repeated intratracheal administration without being detected in distant organs.

Objective To evaluate the effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) on the level of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2) during endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats.Methods Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 180-220 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table (n =10 each):control group (group C),ALI group,low-dose PHC group (group L-PHC) and high-dose PHC group (group H-PHC).ALI was induced with iv injection of lipopolysaccharide 5.0 mg/kg via the tail vein.In L-PHC and H-PHC groups,PHC 0.6 and 2 mg/kg were injected,respectively,via the tail vein at 1 and 24 h after lipopolysaccharide injection.The rats were sacrificed at 48 h after the initial injection of PHC to measure the lung water content,protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF),and the expression of Ang-1,Tie-2 and phosphorylated Tie-2 in lung tissues.The morphological changes of lung tissues were observed under light microscope and the ultrastructural changes of alveolar epithelial barrier under transmission electron microscope.Results Compared with group C,the lung water content and protein concentrations in BALF were significantly increased,and the expression of Ang-1 and phosphorylated Tie-2 was down-regulated in the other three groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group ALI,the lung water content and protein concentrations in BALF were significantly decreased,and the expression of Ang-1 and phosphorylated Tie-2 was up-regulated in H-PHC group (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in group L-PHC (P ＞0.05).The damage to lung tissues was significantly reduced in group H-PHC as compared with group ALI.Conclusion PHC can improve the permeability of pulmonary microvascular and reduce injury to alveolar epithelial barrier,thus ameliorating endotoxin-induced ALI in rats,and the effect is dose-related and up-regulation of Ang-1 expression and inhancement of Tie-2 activity are involved in the mechanism.

Objective To investigate the effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride on brain injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in rats. Methods Thirty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n = 6 each): sham operation group (group S), CPB group, and low, median and high dose penehyclidine hydrochloride groups (group PL, PM , PH). Penehyclidine hydrochloride 0.2, 0.6 and 2.0 mg/kg were added to the priming solution in group PL, PM and PH respectively, while the equal volume of normal saline was added instead in group S. Blood samples were obtained at 2 h after termination of CPB to determine the plasma concentrations of neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S-100β protein. The brain tissues were taken to observe the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons with electron microscope. Results The concentrations of NSE and S-100β protein were significantly higher in the other groups than in group S, while lower in group PM and PH than in group CPB and PL( P＜ 0.05). The S-100β protein concentration was significantly lower in group PH than in group PM( P ＜ 0.05). The damage to hippocampal neurons was significantly attenuated in group PM and Ps. Conclusion Penehyclidine hydrochloride 0.6 or 2.0 mg/kg can reduce the CPB-induced brain injury in a dose-dependent manner in rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of probiotics preconditioning on intestinal mucosal barrier function in a rat model of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) . Methods Twenty-four adult male SD rats weighing 350-450 g were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 8 each) : group Ⅰ sham operation ( group S); group Ⅱ CPB and group Ⅲ probiotics + CPB. CPB was established between left carotid artery and right jugular vein and maintained for 60 min. Croup Ⅲ received intragastric instillation of probiotics 2 ml once a day for 7 consecutive days before CPB. Blood samples were collected at 2 h after CPB was terminated for determination of plasma D-lactate, TNF-and IL-6 concentrations and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity. Venous blood was obtained from portal vein for determination of LPS concentration and cultured. Liver, pancreas, spleen, kidney and mesenteric lymphnode (MLN) specimens were obtained under sterile condition and cultured for bacterial growth. The mucous membrane of small intestine was examined with electron microscope. Results CPB significantly increased plasma DAO activity, and D-lactate, IPS, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations and the rate of bacteria-positive culture of portal venous blood, liver, MLN, lung and kidney in group Ⅱ as compared with group S. Probiotics preconditioning significantly attenuated the above-mentioned CPB-induced changes. Microscopic examination showed that probiotics preconditioning significantly ameliorated CPB-induced damage to the epithelium of the small intestine. Conclusion Probiotics preconditioning can significantly attenuate CPB-induced inflammatory response and protect the intestinal mucosal barrier function.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on acute liver injury in rats with endotoxemia.Methods Eighteen adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 3-4 months, weighing 250-300 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=6 each) using a random number table: control group (group C), endotoxin group (group E), and dexmedetomidine group (group D).In E and D groups, lipopo-lysaccharide 5 mg/kg was injected via the femoral vein of rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate.In group D, dexmedetomidine was infused with a 7 μg/kg loading bolus over 15 min after injection of lipopolysaccharide, followed by a 6 h continuous infusion of 5 μg · kg-1 · h-1.The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in E and C groups.After the end of administration, blood samples from the femoral vein were drawn for determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations in serum (by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in serum (using the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine reference procedures).Liver specimens were obtained for examination of pathologic changes with electron microscope.Results Compared with group C, the serum ALT and AST activities and TNF-α and IL-lβ concentrations were significantly increased in E and D groups.Compared with group E, the serum ALT and AST activities and TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations were significantly decreased in group D.The pathologic changes of livers were obvious in group E, and were significantly reduced in group D compared with group E.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can alleviate acute liver injury in rats with endotoxemia, and the underlying mechanism is associated with inhibition of systemic inflammatory responses.