INTRODUCTIONColorectal cancer is the most common form of malignancy in Taiwan and the third leading cause of death from cancer, preceded only by lung and hepatic cancers. Colorectal cancer is typically treated by surgical intervention and/or chemotherapy and radiotherapy, if necessary. To date, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the most commonly used anti-cancer chemotherapy drug. However, patients commonly experience resistance to the drug therefore limiting its efficiency. In this study, we measured the expression of rTSbeta in human colon cancer as a novel 5-FU resistance marker.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe collected 172 colon cancer samples from 4 different hospitals (including 21 pairs of colon cancer biopsies and 151 pathologic slides of colon cancer). In vitro, we measured the cytotoxicity of 5-FU and 5-FU plus leucovorin in H630 and H630-1 colon cancer cell lines.

RESULTSThe results revealed that rTSbeta was expressed in 115 (66.9 %) pathology samples and that tumour expression was higher than in corresponding normal tissue. Survival rates of up to 5 years following treatment was significantly higher for patients without rTSbeta expression than for those with rTSbeta expression (P = 0.0023). In vitro, H630-1 (with rTSbeta overexpression) had significantly higher IC50 of 5-FU than did H630. IC50 of 5-FU decreased when leucovorin was added.

CONCLUSIONSResults indicate a close relationship between rTSbeta expression and resistance to the drug 5-FU in human colorectal cancer. These results provide further evidence for rTSbeta expression as a novel 5-FU resistance marker of colorectal cancer.

Biomarkers ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Cytological Techniques ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; physiology ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Taiwan ; Thymidylate Synthase ; genetics ; metabolism

Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the necessity of central compartment neck dissection in laryngeal cancer.Study Design: Retrospective study at a tertiary referral medical center. Methods:Patients with laryngeal squamous cell cancer who underwent neck dissection were evaluated, and a retrospective analysis of clinicopathologic factors and follow-up data were performed. Results: One hundred and eighteen patients from 1999 to 2009 were enrolled. There were 11.9% central compartment lymph node metastasis in all patients, including the 10 patients with central compartment lymph node metastasis in 34 patients underwent compartment neck dissection and 4 patients do not underwent compartment neck dissection but had central neck recurrence in the follow up time. Subglottic or pyriform extension were risk factors in central compartment lymph node metastasis and central neck recurrence (P=0.002). Central compartment lymph node metastasis had closed relationship with levelⅣmetastasis (P<0.001), extracapsular extension (P=0.001), vascular extension (P=0.015) and poor local control rates (P=0.035) respectively. Patients who were positive for lateral neck lymph node metastasis had poor disease-free survival rate (P=0.014) and poor local control rates (P=0.025), and supraglottic cancer had a trend to metastases to levelⅡ(P=0.044). Conclusion:Central compartment neck dissection might be considered a potential therapeutic approach for patients with laryngeal cancer.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of musicotherapy on agitation behaviors in patients with aged dementia (AD).Methods22 AD patients were treated with different musicotherapies, and examined with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and self made sociality psychological inventory before and after treatment.ResultsAfter musicotherapy, the incidence rate of agitation behaviors of AD patients decreased significantly ( P<0.001). The incidence rates of agitation behaviors among patients with low, middle and high MMSE scores were significantly different ( P<0.001). After musicotherapy, both depressions of patients' cognitive function and scores of agitation behaviors were significant different compared with that before treatment (P<0.01). Effectual rates of musicotherapy on sociality psychological emotion, communication, language and intercourse of this group patients were 86.36%, 90.91%, 72.73% and 77.27%, respectively.ConclusionMusicotherapy can effectively alleviate the symptoms of agitation behaviors in AD patients.

OBJECTIVETo construct the recombinant plasmid pPHU281_A_Spec_B, which knock out Porphyrmonas gingivalis (Pg) FimA gene.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from PgATCC33277 which was cultured in anaerobic condition. The upstream and downstream gene of FimA was cloned from Pg genenomic DNA with specific restriction sites by polymerase chain reaction. Suicide vector pPHU281 was inserted by three fragments: upstream, downstream of FimA gene and spectinomycin resistance gene. The recombinant plasmid was confirmed by electrophoresis and sequenced after amplification in compentent cells DH-5α.

RESULTSThe gene sequence was identified by DNA sequencing analysis. The recombinant plasmid pPHU281_A_Spec_B was successfully constructed.

CONCLUSIONSThe recombinant plasmid pPHU281_A_Spec_B was constructed, which may be used for the constructon of FimA deficient Pg.

Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Fimbriae Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Vectors ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo study the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) in children.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on the clinical records of children aged under 3 years who were diagnosed with primary urinary tract infection (UTI) from September 2011 to February 2012. These children were divided into those with upper UTI (UUTI) (APN) and those with lower UTI (LUTI) (non-APN) based on 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan results as a gold standard. The UUTI and LUTI groups were compared in terms of serum levels of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic values of serum PCT and CRP.

RESULTSSixty-five children with UTI, including 39 cases of APN and 26 cases of LUTI, were included in this study. The APN cases had significantly higher serum levels of PCT (3.08 ng/mL vs 0.37 ng/Ml; P<0.01) and CRP (6.25 mg/L vs 3.01 mg/L; P<0.01) than the LUTI cases. The sensitivity and specificity of serum PCT level for APN were 84.6% and 88.5%, respectively, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.873 (95%CI=0.781-0.965) and an optimal threshold point of 1.03 ng/mL. The sensitivity and specificity of serum CRP level for APN were 71.8% and 69.2%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.735 (95%CI=0.612-0.858) and an optimal threshold point of 3.91 mg/L.

CONCLUSIONSAs a result of its high sensitivity and specificity for the disease, serum PCT can be used as a marker in the early diagnosis of APN in children.

C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Pyelonephritis ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of stiletto needle for pain of knee osteoarthri tis (KOA), and analyze its function mechanism.

METHODSSeventy-six cases of KOA (76 knees) were selected. Under the guide of Jingjin theory in TCM, stiletto needle was applied at pain point of Jingjin in extra-articular area to have a loose solution effect, 1 to 3 points were selected each time, 1 to 2 times of treatment were required. The results of tenderness measurement instrument was adopted as main evaluation index of joint pain, and all data of evaluation indices before and after the treatment were statistical analyzed.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in visual analogue scale (VAS) score, tenderness score, HSS function score and movement range of joint before and after the treatment (all P < 0.05). The effective rate of stiletto needle therapy was 89.5%. There was apparent regression trend between VAS score and tenderness score with Y (VAS) = 7.841-1.569 X (tenderness score) as its regressive equation.

CONCLUSIONThe stiletto needle therapy is an effective method to relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis, and its clinical efficacy evaluation could be more objective and digital with tenderness measurement instrument.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Arthralgia ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are the ideal adult stem cells in cell/gene therapy and tissue engineering for their features of easily-handling, highly proliferative capacity in vitro, low immunogenicity and immunomodulatory ability. MSC, as a kind of cellular drug, have been utilized in a phase III clinical trial to treat refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). However, the essences of MSC in culture remain elusive so far. Whether the cells expanded in vitro are stem cells per se, and if not, why expanded MSC maintain their multiple differentiation ability? And are the MSC cultivated in vitro homogeneous and if not, what the heterogeneity stands for? Focusing on the heterogeneity of MSC in culture in vitro, the above questions are briefly discussed in this review.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) in treating patients with lingual hemangioma (LHG).

METHODSEA therapy was applied on 36 patients by directly inserting the platinum needles into LHG through a trocar with plastic insulating cannula to protect the normal tissues and connecting the needles with the electro-chemical therapeutic apparatus of model ZAY-B. Then electricity was given until the tumor body got contracted and rigid. The result was assessed 6 months after EA was started.

RESULTSAll patients were treated effectively, namely, the effective rate was 100%, with the therapeutic effect reaching grade I in 29 patients (80.6%), grade II in 7 (19.4%), and all having the function of tongue recovered to normal.

CONCLUSIONEA shows special superiorities in treating LHG, proved to bring about less injury and quick recovery and being simple in operation. Especially when applied on huge LHG, it could not only remove the tumor, but also preserve the function of the tongue, so it is a brand-new approach that is likely to be accepted by patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Female ; Hemangioma ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Tongue Neoplasms ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effects of post-stroke hand dysfunction treated with acupuncture at Zhongzhu (TE 3) and Waiguan (TE 5).

METHODSSixty cases of post-stroke hand dysfunction were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). Routine medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy and other rehabilitation trainings were applied in both groups; Zhongzhu (TE 3) and Waiguan (TE 5) were punctured in observation group. Scores of nervous functions deficit by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), hand function, walking ability, activities of daily living (ADL) by Modified Barthel Index Scale were e valuated in both groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of hand function, walking ability, ADL and NIHSS were improved in both groups (all P < 0.01), and the hand function, walking ability and ADL in observation group were superior to those in control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRoutine medicine and rehabilitation trainings combined with acupuncture at Zhongzhu (TE 3) and Waiguan (TE 5) to treat post-stroke hand dysfunction can obviously improve the hand dysfunction after stroke, enhance the abilities of walking and daily living, and increase the curative effect.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Hand ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Walking

OBJECTIVETo investigate the operative treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture by lateral minimally invasive approach reduction and internal fixation.

METHODSDuring January 2006 to September 2009, 30 cases (31 feet) of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture were treated by open reduction and hollow screws internal fixation through lateral minimally invasive approach from the fibular tip to the basement of the fourth metatarsal foot (Sanders II in 21 feet, Sanders III in 8 feet, Sanders IV in 2 feet), including 23 males and 7 females with an average age of 36.5 years ranging from 18 to 60 years.

RESULTSThe 31 feet of 30 patients were followed-up for from 3 to 24 months (14 months in average). There was no soft tissue complications such as infected incision, skin necrosis, poor wound healing, and sural nerve injury. X-ray films of 25 feet after the operations showed well reduction of articular surface and satisfactory shape on calcaneal; 6 feet showed roughly normal shape. Based on the Maryland grading system, 6 feet were excellent, 20 feet good and 5 feet fair.

CONCLUSIONThe lateral minimally invasive approach is a good option for calcaneal fracture of Sanders II and III, because of its less damages to soft tissue and fewer complications. It could also provide excellent exposure of articular surface.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Screws ; Bone Transplantation ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Time Factors