Objective To provide a theoretical foundation for language rehabilitation by investigating the characteristics of verb impairment in Chinese agrammatism(CA)and exploring its mechanism.Methods Fifteen CA patients and 15 normal subjects(control group)were recruited and evaluated using a standardized aphasia battery in Chinese,the Chinese agrammatism battery,a verb comprehension and production task and a short-term memory task.Results Compared with the control group,verb comprehension and production,as well as working memory were significantly damaged among the CA patients,and it was more difficult for the agrammatic aphasics to produce than to comprehend verbs(P＜0.01).Verbs with a more complex argument structure(in terms of the number and type of arguments)were more difficult for the agrammatie aphasics to produce than those with a less complex argu- ment structure.But the complexity of the argument structure did not influence the agrammatic aphasics'verb compre- hension.Conclusion The semantic entry of a verb,shared by both comprehension and production,was intact,but the verb's grammar entry was impaired.Poor working memory together with the complexity of the argument structure accounted for the impaired verb production of the agrammatic patients.

Objective To investigate the processing characteristics of locative prepositions in patients with Chinese aphasia,and to provide the theoretical evidence for the rehabilitation of aphasia.Methods Twenty aphasic patients caused by left-hemisphere stroke and twenty matched normal controls were studied.Using the locative prepo- sition repeating task(single words,locative preposition phrases and words in sentences),the comprehension task, filling-gap task,the visual-spatial function task and the short-term memory task,we compared the performance be- tween these two groups.Results The aphasic patients had more difficulty in repeating locative prepositions in sen- tences,in comprehension task and filling-gap task,their short term memory was impaired.Both groups did well in re- peating single words and phrases.Conclusion The processing of locative prepositions was impaired in Chinese aphasics.The repetition of locative prepositions was more difficult than that of phrases and single words.The preposi- tions were often omitted.It might be due to the impairment of their short-term memory,or it might have something to do with role they played in the syntactic structure.The latter might also impact the comprehension and filling-gap score.We should make plans before rehabilitation therapy.

Objective To explore the implementation situation and influencing factors of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) after receiving post-abortion care (PAC) in artificial abortion women.Methods According to the demographic characteristics and abortion risks,4 068 artificial abortion women in the family planning clinic of our hospital were classified.The LARC implementation situation after receiving PAC was compared among different characteristic populations.The Chi square test was utilized to analyze the statistical significance of the data by SAS software.Results The LARC rate in young women was 7.9%),which was lower than 27.7% in 19-40 years old women and 11.8% in perimenopausal women;the LARC rate in nulliparous women was 10.6%,which was lower than 27.7% in parous women;the LARC rate in high-risk abortion women was 33.1%,which was higher than 16.6% in low-risk abortion women,these data analysis had statistically significant significance (P<0.05).The LARC rate in ≤ 20 years old women among high-risk abortion women,breastfeeding women,delivery women within three months,cesarean section women within six months and more than three times artificial abortion women was low (< 50%).However,the LARC rate in the scar pregnancy women and more than two times cesarean section women was high (> 80%).Conclusion Young women,nulliparous women and postpartum women in high-risk artificial abortion should be ranked the focus group for PAC consulting.

Objective To investigate the clinical outcome and treatment of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) following partial splenic embolization (PSE).Methods From April 2006 to April 2010,105patients with hypersplenism caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension were treated with PSE.Contrastenhanced abdominal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was performed routinely in 60patients before PSE and 1 -3 months after PSE.PVT was detected in 10 patients on images after the procedures.After PVT was diagnosed,4 patients received anticoagulant therapy immediately,and the other 6 patients did not receive therapy.Clinical data of these 10 PVT patients were analyzed retrospectively.Results 3 of 4 patients who received anticoagulant therapy had complete or partial resolution of the thrombus,and one developed mild ascites without thrombosis progression.Of the 6 patients who did not receive anticoagulant therapy,follow-up studies (6- 48 months,mean 16.9 months) demonstrated partial clot calcification in one,thrombosis progression in 5.Among those 5 patients with thrombosis progression,two experienced hematemesis due to variceal rupture and underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt,2 developed cavernous transformation,extensive collateral circulation,ascites and variceal progression,and one had variceal progression with melena during the follow-up period.Conclusions PVT is a severe complication of PSE.Early diagnosis and prompt anticoagulant therapy is effective in preventing PVT.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of isolated celiac artery (CA) dissection and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection.MethodsIntegrating clinical data of 119 cases with isolated dissection of the visceral arteries ( IDVA ) reported in literature and 2 patients with spontaneous isolated dissections of both CA and SMA treated in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,the diagnosis and treatment of IDVA were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among 119 cases reported in the literature,69 cases were symptomatic.All of the cases were diagnosed by contrast-enhanced abdominal CT or MRI.After IDVA was discovered,surgical treatment and endovascular stent placement was performed in 8 and 5 patients respectively,although the remaining 106 patients were managed conservatively with good results.In our 2 cases,the diagnosis of CA and SMA dissection was established by contrastenhanced CT and confirmed by conventional angiograghy.One patient was treated with anticoagulation and antihypertension,and the other patient was treated with endovascular stenting.Both of the patients didn't have discomfort during the follow-up period of 12 and 3 months respectively.ConclusionsContrastenhanced abdominal CT is the main tool for detection of IDVA.Most of the patients with IDVA can be managed conservatively,but close surveillance with imaging studies is necessary for early recognition of dissection progression.Patients with persistent or relapsed symptoms,and dissection progression,should undergo surgical or endovascular treatment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of prostatic malignant mesenchymal tumors (PMMT).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data about 20 cases of PMMT and reviewed the literature relevant to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease.

RESULTSBased on the results of pathology and immunohistochemistry, the 20 PMMT cases included leiomyosarcoma (n = 7), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 5), prostatic stromal sarcoma (n = 3), chondrosarcoma (n = 1), and undifferentiated PMMT (n = 4). Twelve of the patients were treated by radical prostatectomy (3 concurrently by sigmoid colostomy and 1 by cystostomy), 2 by pelvic tumor resection following arterial embolization, 1 by total pelvic exenteration, 1 by colostomy with pelvic lymph node biopsy, and 4 by conservative therapy because of metastasis to the lung, pelvis and bone. Of the 20 patients, 9 died of systemic metastasis within 3 months after treatment, 3 died at 6, 7, and 14 months, respectively, 3 survived with tumor for 5, 11, and 12 months, respectively, 2 survived without tumor for 12 and 24 months so far, all subjected to periodic chemotherapy postoperatively, and 3 lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONPMMT is a tumor of high malignancy and rapid progression, for which transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy remains the main diagnostic method. The clinical stage of the tumor is an important factor influencing its prognosis and the survival rate of the patients can be improved by early diagnosis and combined therapy dominated by radical prostatectomy.

Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mesenchymoma ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEIt has been known that the intrahepatic renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a key role in the fibrogenesis in livers. Aldosterone (Aldo), the principal effector molecule of the RAAS, exerts local effects on cell growth and fibrogenesis. However, the signal transduction mechanisms underlying the effects of Aldo on hepatic fibrogenesis remain to be fully elucidated. The present study aims to investigate the signal transduction mechanism underlying the effects of Aldo on the signal passageway of active protein-1 (AP-1).

METHODSIn vitro, HSCs-T6 cell line was treated with Aldo for 10 min, 30 min, 60 min, 120 min and 180 min, and protein expression of Phospho-P42/44 was detected by Western blot. In addition, HSCs-T6 cell line was preincubated for 60 min or not with U0126 (an inhibitor of the MAPK/ERK kinase), and also with antioxidant-N-acetylcysteine (NAC) prior to exposure to Aldo for the indicated times. Protein expression of Phospho-P42/44 was measured by Western blot. DNA biding activity of AP-1 was analyzed by electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay (EMSA). By means of RT-PCR, expression of alpha1(1) procollagen mRNA was detected.

RESULTSAldo stimulated HSC via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathway. Time course experiments showed that Aldo induced Phospho-P42/44 expression, which was abrogated by U0126, reaching a maximum at 10 minutes, and then declined progressively. NAC inhibited the Phospho-P42/44 expression. EMSA showed that stimulation of HSC by Aldo markedly increased AP-1 DNA binding activity. U0126 markedly reduced AP-1 DNA binding activity induced by Aldo; NAC partly decreased AP-1 activity induced by Aldo. Aldo up-regulated expression of alpha1(1) procollagen mRNA, which was attenuated by U0126 and NAC.

CONCLUSIONStimulation of HSC by Aldo results in activation of AP-1 via ERK1/2 pathway, leading to up-regulation of AP-1 target gene alpha1(1) procollagen mRNA expression.

Aldosterone ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism

Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; complications ; Castleman Disease ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Retroperitoneal Space ; pathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDBecause of the complexity and severity of the surgery and its associated complications, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially the hemorrhage post-PD. Exploring the factors associated with post-PD hemorrhage is very important for the patients' safety.

METHODSClinical data from 303 cases of PD between January 1998 and December 2008 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe overall mortality rate was 4.95% (15/303). However, post-operative bleeding occurred in 25 patients (8.25%) with nine episodes resulting in death (36.00%). Univariate analysis was performed and identified tumor size, Child's classification, total pancreatic uncinatic process resection, and pancreatic leakage as significant risk factors for post-PD hemorrhage. In the severe hemorrhage group, incomplete resection of uncinate process of pancreas and pancreatic leakage were the main causes. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that each of these variables is an independent risk factor.

CONCLUSIONSPrimary prevention of bleeding complications depends on total pancreatic uncinatic process resection and meticulous hemostatic techniques during surgery. In addition, several peri-operative factors were found to contribute to post-PD bleeding.

Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; adverse effects ; mortality ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the proper time of cryo-preserving tracheal allograft so as to minimize its antigenicity.

METHODSOn a dog model, this study was carried out by allografting a tracheal into a muscular flap formed with sternocephalic muscle and sternohyoid--sternothyroid muscle. The tracheal was treated with cryopreservation in defferent intervals. The viability of the graft was evaluated by the examination of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, histopathology and microangiography. The blood flow of the tracheal mucous was measured with a blood flowmeter and the survival area was decided in the calculation of the percentage.

RESULTSThere are no significant differences in the mucous membrane appearance and the mucosal blood flow one week after the surgery among the non-cryopreservation group and the groups treated with cryopreservation in 1 day, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks. The graft was found to start necrosis 2 weeks after the transplantation with the infiltration of mononuclear cells examined under light microscope in almost all of the groups, especially in the non-cryopreservation group and the groups treated with cryopreservation in 1 day, 2 weeks. However, there was no significant difference among the autograft group and the allograft groups cryopreservated in 6 weeks and 8 weeks, and the infiltration of the mononuclear cells was not found in these groups either.

CONCLUSIONThe antigenicity of the tracheal allografts could be significantly decreased by the treatment of cryopreservation over 6 weeks.

Animals ; Bronchoscopes ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Dogs ; Flowmeters ; Models, Animal ; Respiratory Mucosa ; blood supply ; pathology ; Trachea ; immunology ; pathology ; transplantation ; Transplantation, Homologous