AlM: To evaluate the effectiveness of Spot Vision Screener on vision screening of children without cycloplegia.METHODS:A total of 87 children (174 eyes) aged from 2~9 years old were examined with Spot Vision Screener and optometrist before cycloplegia.RESULTS: Statistical analysis demonstrated that the cylinder diopter and axis, the equivalent spherical diopter in both eyes, and the spherical diaopter in left eye had no significant change ( P>0. 05 ). However, the spherical diaopter in right eye had statistical significance. CONCLUSlON: Spot Vision Screener is a suitable instrument in vision screening of children without cycloplegia.

Objective To establish a practical,stable and high purity endothelial progenitor cells culture meth- od in vitro.Methods Human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll density-gradient cen- trifugation,then plated on dishes coated with human fibronectin.After 48 hours,the nonaderent cells were collect- ed and replated onto fibronectin-coated dishes.After 7 days of culture,the cells were identified with the techniques of immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence and flow cytometer.Results The cultured cells were small and spindle or polygonal in shape.Large numbers of typical endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming units were found,vWF and Flk-1 proteins expression were identified in more than 95% of the attached cells with 98% of them showing positive Dil-ac-LDL and FITC-UEA-1.According to the results from fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS),7.0%?1.8% of cells were recognized as CD_(133)~+.Conclusion Differential attachment technique is a practical and stable method for obtaining highly purified endothelial progenitor cells.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the first and second assay kits currently used in blood centers for screening HCV infected blood, and to provide basis for a better match of the two assay kits.

METHODSUsing the newly developed multi-recombinant-HCV-antigen supplementary assay kit, the authors evaluated concurrently the specificity and sensitivity of two domestic and one imported anti-HCV detection kits.

RESULTSDiscrepancy in specificity and sensitivity existed among the two domestic HCV kits, and overall quality was slightly below that of leading or main stream imported HCV kit.

CONCLUSIONThe newly developed multi-recombinant-HCV-antigen supplementary assay kit is useful in the evaluation of HCV antibody detection kit currently in use. It provides qualified assessing kit to capture antibodies against various HCV antigens. The present paper provided guidance for selecting a better match of the two screening kits and improved screening efficiency.

Blood Donors ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; standards ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate nutritional risk, physical activity, and quality of life (QoL) and the interaction of these factors in colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Participants were colorectal cancer patients receiving follow-up treatment at the colorectal cancer outpatient clinic of Severance Hospital in Seoul. Participants were recruited from October 25 to November 30, 2010. The survey questionnaire consisted of Nutritional Risk Score (NRS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - scales for Colorectal Cancer (FACT-C). RESULTS: NRSs were significantly higher in patients with low BMI (F=18.63, p<.001) and those who were underwent colorectal surgery within 1 month (F=5.96, p<.001). Physical activity level of the participants was 28.96METs. Lower nutritional risk was associated with a higher QoL (r= - .34, p<.001). In a multiple regression analysis, the predictors of QoL were the age, economic status, and nutritional risk of the patient (R2=40.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Targeted tailored nursing interventions are needed to assess nutritional risks in order to improve colorectal cancer patients' QoL.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Child ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Motor Activity* ; Nursing ; Nutrition Disorders ; Quality of Life* ; Seoul ; Weights and Measures ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify differences in physiological.psychological.environmental.behavioral characteristics between obese and control children participating in a health camp and to identify the factors related to childhood obesity. METHODS: Two hundred eighty seven children aged 6 to 12 years were recruited from a health camp for elementary students in D city, Korea. Data collection was done on November 28 and 29, 2009. Anthropometric measurements, blood tests, and self-report surveys were conducted. Chi-square test, independent t-test, ANCOVA, and multiple logistic regression were performed using PASW statistics 18.0. RESULTS: Obese children had adverse conditions for both physiological and psychological characteristics. In terms of environmental and behavioral characteristics, high maternal BMI and more than two hours of TV watching were significantly associated with high risk of childhood obesity (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.02-1.21; OR=2.05, 95% CI=1.23-3.41). CONCLUSION: Through a multi-factorial approach, the current study identified the differences between obese and control children participating in a health camp and risk factors of childhood obesity. These findings provide preliminary data and perspectives on intervention research for prevention and management of childhood obesity.
Aged ; Child ; Community Health Nursing ; Data Collection ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Child Health

Objective To investigate the characteristics and distribution of human eehinococcosis in Hobukesar Mongolian Autonomous County (HMAC) in Xinjiang. Methods Using cluster sampling methods, the 2 counties (Tiebukenwusa and Narenhebuke) in HMAC were chosen as focusing areas for investigation. A survey of human echinococcosis including questionnaire, serological test and abdominal ultrasonic scan was carried out. Results The prevalence of human echinococcosis was 9.0% (64/712) by ultrasound and surgical history, including 8.7% (62/712) for cystic eehinococcosis(CE), 0.3%(2/712) for alveolar echinococcosis(AE) and 15.6%(111/712) for total of serological positives in HMAC. CE prevalence rate of different occupations, age, family slaughtering livestock and drinking water source had significant differences(P<0.05). Herdsmen as the highest risk group showed a CE prevalence of the 13.4% (27/201) in comparison with other occupations. The ages between 20 to<40 year-old were at the highest risk stage with 12.8% incidence. But CE prevalence rate of different gender, ethnic and education groups had not significant differences(P>0.05). Conclusions HMAC could be considered as a high endemic human CE region in Xinjiang. The current study reported the main risk factors may include occupations, age difference and drinking water source.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the spiral CT and its reconstruction techniques in diagnosis and localization of gastrointestinal stromal tumor originated in the small intestine.

METHODSThe data of spiral CT scan and MPR, STS-MIP of 24 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the small intestine confirmed pathologically were analyzed retrospectrvely.

RESULTSOf 24 cases, 1 had multiple tumor, while the other 23 had single one. Seventeen of these tumors were benign and 7 malignant, with 2 in the duodenum, 12 in the jejunum and 10 in the ileum. The range of tumor diameters was from 2.5 to 12 cm. The main clinical characters of the tumors on the CT image: (1) The tumor of 15 cases located outside of the enteric cavity, 7 inside of the enteric cavity or presented as thicken bowel wall and 2 showed as niche sign. (2) The tumor shape of 19 cases were round-like, and 5 lobulated or irregular. (3) The tumor density of 12 cases was homegeneous, 7 heterogeneous and 5 map-like in the center. (4) The tumor enhancement style in 19 cases were homegeneous in dynamic enhanced scan, and 16 were slightly or mildly heterogeneous in the artery phase but apparently enhanced in the venous and equilibrium phase, with 5 showed as fast-in fast-out enhanced mode. Of those, one showed obvious enhancement in artery phase, while 2 did not. (5) The tumor of 2 cases had no clear margin and had invaded the surrounding tissue. (6) The arteries supplying tumors in 20 cases were demonstrated by multiple planar reconstruction (MPR), sliding thin slab-maximum intensity projection (STS-MIP). The accuracy of diagnosis and localization of gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the small intestine by spiral CT scan combined with MPR, STS-MIP were 91.7% (22/24) and 95.8% (23/24), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSpiral CT and its reconstruction techniques (MPR, STS-MIP) can play an important role in the differential diagnosis and localization of gastrointestinal stromal tumor originated in the small intestine.

Adult ; Aged ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Duodenum ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Ileal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ileum ; diagnostic imaging ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Jejunal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Jejunum ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

AIM To observe the effect of Zishen Yutai Pills (Cuscutae Semen,Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Dipsaci Radix,etc.) on RAS,VEGF,VEGFR-2,sVEGFR-1 and MAPK in recurrent miscarriage mice,and to explore its mechanism.METHODS CBA/J female mice + DBA/2 male mice,and CBA/J female mice + BALB/c male mice were mated by 2 females and 1 male in cage to establish the RSA model and the normal pregnancy CBA × BALB/c mouse model respectively.Since the zeroth day of pregnancy,a total of 24 CBA/J × DBA/2 mice were randomly divided into model control group,Zishen Yutai Pills group and progesterone capsule group,and 10 CBA × BALB/c mice were used as normal pregnancy control group.Mice of all groups after the respective 15-day intervention had their rate of uterine embryo loss measured and calculated.Their pathological changes of decidual tissue were determined by HE staining,their RAS,VEGF,VEGFR-2,sVEGFR-1,MAPK protein and mRNA expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR.RESULTS Zishen Yutai Pills significantly reduced the rate of embryo loss and improved pathological changes of decidual tissue in RSA mice through regulating mouse decidual tissue angiogenesis and recasting,as revealed by the lowered levels of RAS,VEGF,VEGFR-2 and MAPK,and increased expression of sVEGFR-1.CONCLUSION Zishen Yutai Pills can lower the rate of embryo loss and improve decidual angiogenesis in RSA mice through altering the expression of RAS,VEGF,VEG-FR-2,sVEGFR-1 and MAPK.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of nuclear microarray combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry in detecting ALK gene translocation and ALK fusion protein in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

METHODSALK gene translocation and ALK fusion protein in 17 paraffin-embedded ALCL specimens were detected using nuclear microarray combined with FISH and immunohistochemical straining, respectively.

RESULTSThe expression of ALK fusion protein was detected immunohistochemically with ALK antibody in 8 of the 17 specimens of systemic ALCL, including 4 with both nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity and 4 with only cytoplasmic positivity. Dual-color FISH identified 6 positive specimens, including the 4 specimens with both nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity as identified immunohistochemically, and 2 with immunohistochemical cytoplasmic positivity. FISH yielded negative results for the 2 specimens with immunohistochemical cytoplasmic positivity.

CONCLUSIONNuclear microarray combined with FISH eliminated the cytoplasmic interference of the results of conventional FISH and provides a high-throughput platform for clinical detection with greater specificity than immunohistochemistry.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Paraffin Embedding ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Reproducibility of Results ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: Controlling blood pressure is a key step in reducing cardiovascular mortality in older adults. Gender differences in patients' attitudes after disease diagnosis and their management of the disease have been identified. However, it is unclear whether gender differences exist in hypertension management among older adults. We hypothesized that gender differences would exist among factors associated with hypertension diagnosis and control among community-dwelling, older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 653 Koreans aged > or =60 years who participated in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare several variables between undiagnosed and diagnosed hypertension, and between uncontrolled and controlled hypertension. RESULTS: Diabetes was more prevalent in men and women who had uncontrolled hypertension than those with controlled hypertension or undiagnosed hypertension. High body mass index was significantly associated with uncontrolled hypertension only in men. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that in women, awareness of one's blood pressure level (odds ratio [OR], 2.86; p=0.003) and the number of blood pressure checkups over the previous year (OR, 1.06; p=0.011) might influence the likelihood of being diagnosed with hypertension. More highly educated women were more likely to have controlled hypertension than non-educated women (OR, 5.23; p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that gender differences exist among factors associated with hypertension diagnosis and control in the study population of community-dwelling, older adults. Education-based health promotion strategies for hypertension control might be more effective in elderly women than in elderly men. Gender-specific approaches may be required to effectively control hypertension among older adults.
Aged ; *Aging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Awareness ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Hypertension/diagnosis/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sex Factors