OBJECTIVETo develop a life quality scale suitable for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, objectively reflecting its changes.

METHODSAuthors first put forward a theoretical structure model of a scale according to patient-reported outcome (PRO) scale formulation principle by combining basic theories of Chinese medicine (CM). Then authors developed an initial scale on the basis of various life quality scales for respiratory disease patients by using structural decision making. Totally 34 patients with confirmed diagnosis of IPF were tested by questionnaire. Items were screened using expert importance scoring method, factor analysis, correlation coefficient method, Cronbach's alpha coefficient method. IPF patient reported outcomes (IPF PRO, IP) were finally defined.

RESULTSA new IP scale was developed covering three areas and 38 items. Pearson correlation coefficient for correlation analysis of clinical symptom scores in ST-George Respiratory Questionnaire and IP scale was 0.828 (P < 0.01). Pearson correlation coefficient for correlation analysis of activity ability scores was 0.929 (P < 0.01). Pearson correlation coefficient for correlation analysis of total scores was 0.862 (P < 0.01). By reliability of IP scale itself (reliability) analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.713. By using factor analysis method for data analysis, KMO statistics was 0.902.

CONCLUSIONIP scale fully reflected the connotation of IPF patients' quality of life, so it could be used as CM clinical therapeutic effect evaluation tool.

Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the effect of the time factor on acupuncture effects by observing the changes of nitric oxide (NO) content at the acupuncture points in different times. Method The experimental study was done on 20 cases of healthy volunteers who provide informed consent. Among 10 cases of acupuncture group, 5 cases were male, 5 cases were female. Among 10 cases of non-acupuncture group, 5 cases were male, 5 cases were female. The age was around 25 to 45 years. Jianshi on Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin and Weizhong on Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang was acupunctured. "Active"/"silent" time of points were projected with Ziwuliuzhu Najia method. Acupuncture was done at the points "active"/"silent" respectively. The changes of NO content at the body points were detected. The difference of acupuncture in different time at the body points was compared. Result NO content in acupuncture group was higher at the "active" than at the "silent", while there was no significant difference at non-acupuncture group. NO content was higher in acupuncture group than that in non-acupuncture group. Conclusion NO content at the points can be increased by acupuncture. Effect of acupuncture at acupoints "active" was more significant than at acupoints "silent". It was proved that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture can be increased by using time acupuncture.

Objective To analyse the tongue characteristics of cancer patients during chemotherapy ,in order to guide the TCM treatment. Methods 42 patients' tongue figure was collected respectively before and after chemotherapy by Canon digital camera, then to analyse the characteristics. Results Purple tongue was the most common in tongue color, account for 38.10%;meanwhile the tongue with stasis patch or with toothmark were common in tongue shape, account for respectively 26.19% and 21.43%;white thick or greasy tongue fur was the most common, especially in the central of tongue. Conclusion Deficience of Qi and blood stasis syndrome is common in cancer patients after chemotherapy, it is helpful to provide tasis for treatment of tonifying Qi and activating blood during chemotherapy.

Serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) , osteocalcin (OC) , C-telopeptides of type-1 collagen (CTx) , osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, and bone mineral density (BMD) were evaluated in 62 hyperthyroid patients and 60 healthy subjects matched for sex and age. In hyperthyroid patients, the biochemical evaluations and bone density were performed before and after 6 months of methimazole ( MMI) treatment. Results showed that the BMD in lumbar spine L2 - L4, neck of femur, Ward's triangle and greater trochanter of patients before treatment were all significantly lower than those in healthy controls, and improved markedly after MMI treatment. The serum bone turnover parameters BAP, OC and CTx in patients before treatment were all significantly higher than those in control group, and were decreased markedly after treatment. The serum OPG level in patients with hyperthyroidism was significantly higher than that in healthy controls, and decreased markedly after treatment. The serum OPG levels were significantly correlated with bone turnover parameters ( BAP, OC, CTx) and BMD, which indicates that serum OPG level can reflect the abnormality of bone metabolism in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Natural products especially flavonoids are being explored for their therapeutic potentials in reducing bone loss and maintaining bone health. The present study is to investigate the effects of isoquercitrin from Craibiodendron yunnanense with different concentrations at 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6), 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) on proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 kit at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of culture. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were performed qualitatively and quantitatively on day 7, and alizarin red S staining was employed to access the mineralization of cells on day 21. The osteogenic markers ALP, collagen type I (COL 1A1), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2) and Osterix were detected to analysis early osteogenic differentiation of cells on day 3 by RT-PCR. The results showed that isoquercitrin had a dose-dependent effect on the proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, mineralization and gene expression of MC3T3-E1 in the range from 1 x 10(-7) to 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1). At concentrations above 1 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) isoquercitrin showed cytotoxicity, while 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1) is the optimal concentration of isoquercitrin to improve the osteoblastic activity. All these results implied that isoquercitrin might be the major composition of traditional Chinese medicine C. yunnanense to treat bone fractures.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ericaceae ; chemistry ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the relation between the infection of Helicobacter pylori (H .pylori)and colorectal tumor.Methods From January 2012 to January 2013,the medical data of 152 patients with colorectal tumor were collected.According to the findings of colonoscopy examination, the patients were divided into the colorectal adenoma group (84 cases)and the colorectal carcinoma group (68 cases).A total of 88 healthy individuals were also enrolled as control.The differences of H .pylori infection were compared among the colorectal adenoma group,the colorectal carcinoma group and the healthy control group.The distribution of H .pylori infection in different age,gender and nation was analyzed in colorectal tumor group.According to the location,maximum diameter,number,type of pedicle and pathological type of adenoma,the colorectal adenoma group was divided into subgroups and the condition of H .pylori infection was compared among the subgroups.Chi-square test was used in the statistical analysis.Results The positive rates of H .pylori infection of colorectal adenoma group, colorectal carcinoma group and healthy control group were 70.2% (59/84),72.1 % (49/68)and 53.4%(47/88),respectively,where the former two groups were both higher than that of the healthy control group,and the differences were statistically significant (χ2 =5 .147 and 5 .637,both P <0.05).Regarding the H .pylori infection,there was no difference in age,gender and ethnicity among 152 patients with colorectal tumor (all P > 0.05 ).Among 84 patients with colorectal adenoma,there was no statistical difference in the positive rate of H .pylori infection in different location,maximum diameter,number, type of pedicle and pathological type of adenoma (all P > 0.05).Conclusion H .pylori may have promoting effects on the genesis and development of colorectal tumor.

Objective To detect the mRNA expression of KPNA2 in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) tissue and to investigate its relationship with the clinicopathological features of HCC so as to provide the basis for predicting HCC infiltration ,metastasis and early treatment .Methods The HCC tissue and paracarcinoma normal tissue from 30 operative cases of HCC in the hepatobiliary surgery department of this hospital from January 2011 to November 2013 were collected and detected KPNA2 expression at the transcriptional level by RT-PCR .The correlation between the mRNA expression of KPNA2 with the clinicopathological factors of HCC was analyzed by consulting the medical record data .Results Among 30 cases of HCC ,the ratio of KPNA2 mRNA in the HCC tissue and the paracarcinoma normal tissue in 25 cases(83 .33% ) was up-regulated (grey value >2 times) .Therefore ,the KP-NA2 gene exhibited the high expression in the HCC tissue and low expression in the paracarcinoma normal tissue .Conclusion KP-NA2 is highly expressed in the HCC tissue and lowly expressed in the paracarcinoma normal tissue ;the high expression of KPNA2 is positively correlated with the stage and pathological grading of HCC ;KPNA2 may be used as an important indicator for early di-agnosing HCC and judging the malignant degree and potential metastais ability of HCC .

Objective This study evaluated the effects of combined procedure of surgical treatment and cell transplantation on dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Eight patients (5 men and 3 women) with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation from end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy underwent surgery. Four patients were in functional class (FC) Ⅳ, six were in FC Ⅲ. There age ranged from 15 to 56 years. The preoperative ejection fraction (EF) ranged from 0.15 to 0.32 (mean 0.26 ± 0.08). Mitral valve replacement was performed in 5 patients and mitral valve repair in 3. Auto-bone marrow monenuclear cells were harvested, isolated, washed, and resuspended for direct injection after surgical procedure. Results All patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. After a mean follow-up period of 18 months ( 12 - 42 months). Echocardiography showed postoperative ejection fraction and wall movement velocity increased after 6 months. Radionuclide ventriculography showed myocardial perfusion improved significantly. Conclusion Combined procedure of surgical treatment and cell transplantation led to significant improvement in cardiac function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.