Objective To investigate the role of endothelin - 1( ET-1) and interleukin-8( IL-8) in tracheal aspirates (TA) in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Methods The levels of ET- 1 and IL - 8 in TA of 13 patients with ARDS and 11 controls were assayed by enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay. Lung injury score was applied to all patients. Results The levels of ET-1 and 1L-8 in TA were significantly higher in ARDS than those in controls (P

Objective： A prospective randomized trial was performed to evaluate the contribution of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods： The patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with either radiotherapy alone (RT group) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (CT/RT group). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of 2-3 cycles of cisplatin (20 mg/m2 on Day 1 to Day 5), bleomycin (7 mg/m2 on Day 1 and Day 5), and 5-FU (500 mg/m2 on Day 1 to Day 5) followed by radiotherapy was given to CT/RT group. All patients were treated in a uniform definitive-intent radiation therapy in two groups. Results： From 1992 to 1993, 457 patients were enrolled and 440 patients (221 in RT group, 219 in CT/RT group) were assessable. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 62％ for CT/RT group and 55％ for RT group (P=0.1335)； The 5-year relapse free survival rate was 48％ versus 58％ , respectively (P=0.0539). The 5-year free local recurrence (FLR) rate was 82％ for CT/RT group, 74％ for RT group (P=0.0412). There was no significant difference in free distant metastasis (FDM) between two treatment groups (CT/RT group, 79％ ; RT group, 75％ ; P=0.4177). Subgroup analyses showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy improved local control in patients with T3-4 disease, and had no effect in preventing distant metastases in patients with N2-3 disease. Conclusion： Despite improving FLR and RFS, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiatherapy failed to gain other survival benefit or reduce distant metastases in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The indication for neoadjuvant chemotherapy is proposed.

To investigate the relaxation effect and underlying mechanism of U50,488H (a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist) on aorta in the rat, isolated aortic ring was perfused and the tension of the vessel was measured. It was shown: (1) kappa-opioid receptor stimulation with U50,488H relaxed rat aorta dose-dependently; (2) the relaxation effect of U50,488H on aorta was partially endothelium-dependent; (3) the relaxation effect of U50,488H was significantly attenuated in the presence of glybenclamide and glipizide, two ATP-sensitive K(+) channel (K(ATP)) blockers; and (4) the relaxation effect of U50,488H on vessel bore no relationship to muscarinic-receptor, beta-adrenoceptor, prostaglandin and nitric oxide (NO). These results indicate that kappa-opioid receptor stimulation with U50,488H relaxes the aortic artery at least partially via K(ATP) channel in the rat.
3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta ; physiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; KATP Channels ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid, kappa ; agonists ; physiology ; Vasodilation ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo compare and evaluate clinical effects between locking intramedullary nail fixation and skeletal traction in order to provide the best therapeutic choice for tibiofibula fractures.

METHODSFrom November 1989 to December 2000, 108 patients with tibiofibula fractures (group A) were treated with skeletal traction, there was 76 males and 32 females; the age was from 29 to 66 years with an average of (40.3 +/- 9.6) years; according to AO classification standard,48 cases were type A, 46 type B, 14 type C, of which the standard typing Gustio, type I in 15 cases, type II in 13, type III A in 2. And from January 2001 to July 2007, 57 patients with tibiofibula fractures (group B) were treated with locking intramedullary nail fixation,there was 40 males and 17 females,the age was from 21 to 69 years with an average of (38.1 +/- 8.9) years; according to AO classification standard, 27 cases were type A, 22 type B, 8 type C, of which the standard typing Gustio, type I in 7 cases, type II in 6, type III A in 1. Four indexes were compared, including the time of fracture healing, the time of achieved 90 degrees genuflection, the time of off-bed weight-bearing and complication.

RESULTSComparison of fracture healing time: group A was (19.0 +/- 0.6) weeks and group B was (14.0 +/- 0.5) weeks; the time of achieved 90 degrees genuflection in group A was (92.0 +/- 8.2) d and in group B was (39.0 +/- 6.1) d; the time of off-bed weight-bearing in group A was (96.0 +/- 6.3) d and in group B was (38.0 +/- 6.5) d. Complication occurred in 42 cases in group A and 6 in group B. There was significantly difference in 4 items between two groups (P < 0.01). The method of locking intramedullary nail fixation was better than skeletal traction in treating tibiofibula fractures.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of tibiaofibula fractures with locking intramedullary nail fixation can obtain satisfactory effect, which has less complication, the fracture heals and weigh-loading can be achieved early.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fibula ; injuries ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Time Factors ; Traction ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight-Bearing

Objective：The fifth edition of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) staging manual defines new rules for classifying nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the manual to predict the prognosis for Chinese patient populations. Methods：From August 1992 to December 1993, a total of 621 consecutively admitted patients with nondisseminated NPC were treated with definitive-intent radiation therapy alone. A computer database containing all information for staging was formed on presentation. The extent of disease of each patient was restaged according to the 1997 UICC system. Results：The 1997 UICC system creates subgroups (Stages Ⅰ -Ⅳ ) that are assigned to 38 (6.1％ ), 270 (43.5％ ), 156 (25.1％ ), and 157 (25.3％ ) patients, respectively. The incidence of parapharyngeal extension was 74.1％ (460/621). Of these patients (460) with parapharyngeal extension, 310 (67.4％ ) patients were classified as T2 disease, The 5-year Overall survival(OS) rates were 89％ , 70％ , 53％ , and 37％ for Stages Ⅰ -Ⅳ , respectively. The 1997 UICC system showed highly significant differences between the overall stages for both OS and relapse-free survival(RFS). The 1997 UICC T-classifications showed significant correlation with local failure, and N classification was accurate in predicting freedom from distant metastasis(FDM). Conclusion：The 1997 UICC staging system for NPC is prognostically useful for Chinese patient populations. However, an uneven patient number distribution was noted. Subdivision of parapharyngeal extension should be included in future revisions of the staging system.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to find out the differences in psychopathology, temperament, and character factors between young adults with and without childhood attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 314 university students (male=72, female=242) in Gongju. They were divided into childhood ADHD group (N=54) and normal group (N=260) to the Wender-Utah Rating Scale. Participants were assessed using Korean Adult ADHD Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Kimberly Young's Internet Addiction Test, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Paranoia Scale, Korean-Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale, Lubben Social Network Scale, and Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. Descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square, spearman correlation, and stepwise multiple regression were applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: Participants with childhood ADHD symptoms had high level of adult ADHD symptoms (p<.001), impulsiveness (p=.001), depression (p<.001), anxiety (p<.001), internet addiction (p<.001), paranoia tendency (p<.001) and low level of self-esteem (p<.001) compared to normal group. Self-directedness (p<.001) was lower, Harm avoidance (p=.001) and Self-transcendence (p=.029) were higher in the childhood ADHD group. In correlation and stepwise multiple regression, childhood ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with cooperativeness (r=-0.515 and beta=-0.547, p<.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: This result showed that young adults with childhood ADHD symptoms had various forms of psychopathology and childhood ADHD symptoms were influenced by character such as cooperativeness. Therefore, more thorough evaluation regarding childhood ADHD symptoms is needed.
Adult* ; Anxiety ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Depression ; Humans ; Internet ; Paranoid Disorders ; Psychopathology* ; Temperament* ; Young Adult

The isolation of the MeOH extract from the flower bud of Magnolia biondii Pamp. using various column chromatographies and HPLC led to eleven neoglignan derivatives (1 - 11). Their structures were mainly determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectral data analysis and physiological methods. The isolated compounds (1 - 11) were tested for anti-allergic effects using IL-2 inhibitory assay in Jurkat T cells.
Chromatography ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flowers* ; Interleukin-2* ; Magnolia* ; Magnoliaceae ; Statistics as Topic ; T-Lymphocytes*

OBJECTIVETo analyze epidemiological characteristics of burn inpatients in Hainan province over 8 years.

METHODSSix thousand and ninety-nine burn patients admitted to 6 hospitals of Hainan province from January 2002 to December 2009 were enrolled in the study. The clinical data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively, including age, gender, injury cause, wound position, burn area, ailment prior to admission, admission time, medical insurance, length of hospital stay, and mortality rate, relationship among inpatient distribution, admission time, and ambient temperature at the time of admission. Data were processed with SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSThere were more burn male patients than female, with ratio of 2.1: 1.0. Most patients were younger than 13 years (57.2%, 3488/6099). The most common burn area was smaller than or equal to 10% TBSA (67.4%, 4108/6099), and the fewest patients had burn areas of over 50% TBSA (2.0%, 121/6099). The main causative agents were hot liquid and flame, accounting for 71.5% (4358/6099), 17.9% (1092/6099), respectively. Most patients had injuries of more than two body areas (60.7%, 3705/6099), and lower extremity injury (17.1%, 1042/6099) was predominant in wound of single body area. Among 703 cases who had other ailments prior to admission (11.5%), the highest rate of prior ailments was found in patients older than 60 years (18.5%, 48/260), it was lowest in children younger than 1 year (8.0%, 32/398). The length of hospital stay was 1 to 375 day, and the admission time was 10 minutes to 90 days after burn. Total mortality rate was 0.4% (26 cases). The number of inpatients aged from 19 to 59 was obviously higher in months with high ambient temperature (from June to August), and for inpatients younger than 13 years the incidence of burn injury showed no obvious seasonal change. The inpatients who had medical insurance accounted for 10.9% (66/603) to 19.5% (121/619) from 2002 to 2005, which increased to 46.0% (372/808) in 2007 and 79.1% (869/1098) in 2009.

CONCLUSIONSFor burn inpatients in Hainan province, the main injury cause of burn injury is hot liquid, the number of burn adults aged from 19 to 59 seems to increase in months with high ambient temperature, while the incidence of burn in children showed no obvious seasonal change. The number of inpatients and those with medical insurance showed a tendency of increase from 2005 to 2009 in Hainan province.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Burns ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Inpatients ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective To observe neural stem cell activation and proliferation in situ afterintracerebal hemorrhage (ICH) and its effect on the neurological function of the injured adult rats.Methods Seventy-two adult rats were randomized into ICH and sham operation groups (n=36). In theICH group, type Ⅳ collagenase was injected into the internal capsule through a microinfusion pump toinduce intracerebral hemorrhage, and the rats in the sham operation group received only phosphate buffersolution injection. The neurological functions of the rats were observed by rotarod motor test on days 1, 7,14, 21, 28, and 35 after the injection. One day before sacrifice, the rots were subjected to intraperitonealBrdU injection to label the regenerated cells, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect theexpressions of nestin and BrdU in the brain tissue. Results No nestin- or BrdU-positive cells werefound in the brain of the rats in the sham operation group. In rats with ICH, nestin- and BrdU-positivecells were found predominantly in the basal ganglion around the hematoma, in the ependyma and near thesubventricular zone (SVZ) in the brain; the number of the positive cells increased significantly 7 daysafter ICH, peaked on day 14 and then significantly reduced on day 28. The rats exhibited no obviousimprovement of the impaired motor function over the period from day 1 to 35 after ICH. Activation andproliferation of the neural stem cells was not obviously related to the recovery of the neurologicalfunctions. Conclusion Endogeneous neural stem cells in the brain are activated in rats after ICH, butthese stem cells possess rather limited capacity of proliferation and can not sufficiently compensate forICH-induced neurological function impairment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of the POSSUM scoring system in predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODSTwo hundreds and sixty-five consecutive PDs were performed between January 2005 and December 2007. POSSUM scores which relied on 12 physiologic and 6 operative variables were prospectively calculated for each case. Expected morbidity and mortality were estimated based on POSSUM scores and were compared with observed morbidity, which were diagnosed according to the Clavien complication scheme and domestic reference criteria respectively, and mortality.

RESULTSPhysiologic scores of 265 cases ranged from 12 to 24,the mean was 15. Operative scores ranged from 14 to 24, the mean was 17. The overall POSSUM scores ranged from 0.24 to 0.88. Average expected morbidity was 43.8%, expected cases were 116. Observed morbidity rate was 39.6% (105/265). The expected and observed morbidities and cases had no significantly differences. All patients were classified to 1 of 4 strata based on their individual POSSUM scores and subsequent risk of morbidity. Predictive value was the highest when scores ranged from 0.4 to 0.8. POSSUM exhibited less predictive value for mortality, but if POSSUM was more than 0.5, it was useful for mortality predicting.

CONCLUSIONSPOSSUM scoring system has high value for predicting the risk of morbidity in PD and can be helpful in guiding surgery and postoperative management decisions.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment