Disability is one of the common geriatric syndromes.Researches addressing elderly disability are still in starting stages.Both opportunities and challenges occur in this field.In this review,we summarized the definition and diagnostic criteria popular assessment tools for the diagnosis of elderly disability,the disease burden and relevant studies regarding elderly disability.

Objective To provide the experimental basis for the further research of the interacting proteins with Stathmin ,the Stathmin gene Pichia pastoris expression system was constructed ,the expressed Stathmin product was purified and identified .Meth‐ods Stathmin gene was amplified from tumor cell line of SKBR3 by PCR method and cloned into the yeast expression vector pPIC3 .5K .The recombinant vector pPIC3 .5K‐Stathmin was constructed and transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115 .The positive clones were screened by YPD medium containing Geneticin 600 μg/mL .Expression was induced with 0 .5% methanol and expres‐sion products were identified by SDS‐PAGE and Western Blotting .Results DNA sequencing result showed that the gene fragment was consistent with Stathmin gene sequence .pPIC3 .5K‐Stathmin was selected from YPD culture medium containing Geneticin ,and the positive clones were identified by PCR .SDS‐PAGE showed that a 37 × 103 protein band could be seen on the PAGE gel after Coomassie Blue staining ,which was further confirmed and identified as Stathmin protein by Western Blotting .Conclusion Stathmin yeast expression vector is successfully constructed and expressed in Pichia pastoris ,which laid the foundation for the study of inter‐acting proteins with Stathmin ,and for the preparation of the biological treatment drugs of Stahtmin target .

Objective To evaluate the operative treatment of nonunion of humeral shaft fracture with in- ternal plate fixation and autogenous cancellous hone graft.Methods Forty-one cases of nonunion of humeral shaft fracture operatively treated from February 2002 to December 2004 were analyzed retrospectively.There were 32 males and nine females.Their average age was 37.5 years(range,17 to 67 years).Sixteen nonunions were defined as hypertrophic and 25 as atrophic.We followed all the patients and obtained their complete medical information. Results Our average follow-up was 22.6 months(range,8 to 42 months).Forty fractures(97.6%)were united within an average of 5.8 months(range,3 to 12 months).Complications included iatrogenic radial nerve injury in three patients,wound infection in one patient and fracture nonunion in one patient.At the final follow-up,shou]der and elbow functions were found to be satisfactory.Conclusion Open reduction and plate internal fixation sup- plemented with autogenous cancellous bone graft is an effective treatment for nonunion of humeral shaft fracture.

Objective To evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in the formation of hyperplastic scar in rabbit ears.Methods The ears of 20 New Zealand rabbits were used to construct an animal model for hyperplastic scar by operation.After the establishment of scar models,the rabbits were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups and one control group with 4 mice (48 wound surfaces) in each group.The mice in the 4 experimental groups were treated with hyperbaric oxygen for 7,14,21 and 28 days,respectively,and those in the control group remained in normoxic environment after operation.Scar tissues were resected from all the rabbit ears on day 29 after operation.Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was conducted for the observation of morphological changes and calculation of scar elevation index,and immunohistochemistry to measure the expressions of HIF-1α and IGF-1R.Statistical analysis was carried out by one-way analysis of variance followed by least significant difference t-test.Results HE staining showed that both the number of fibroblasts and amount of collagen fibers were significantly reduced in the experimental groups compared with the control group.Scar elevation index was 4.28 ± 0.22 in the control group,3.64 ± 0.29,3.46 ± 0.21,3.29 ± 0.21,3.16 ± 0.15 in the 7-,14-,21-and 28-day experimental groups respectively,with significant differences among these groups (F =77.70,P ＜ 0.05).The expressions of HIF-1α and IGF-1R were significantly lower in these experimental groups than in the control group (all P ＜ 0.01),lower in the 14-day group than in the 7-day group (P ＜ 0.05),and lower in the 21-day group than in the 14-day group (P ＜ 0.05),with no significant differences between the 28-day group and 21-day group (both P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen can effectively down-regulate the expressions of HIF-1α and IGF-1R in scar tissue,and significantly inhibit the formation of hyperplastic scar in rabbit ears.

Boronic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Bortezomib ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; POEMS Syndrome ; therapy ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Transplantation, Autologous

Altitude ; Animals ; Arvicolinae ; Gene Expression ; Hypoxia ; Rats ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the expression of galectin- 3 protein and peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer.

METHODThe expressions of galectin- 3 was detected in matching- samples including primary gastric cancer lesions,lymph node metastases,peritoneal metastases and paratumor normal tissues by immunohistochemistry. All specimens were gained from 35 patients who had synchronous peritoneal metastasis from gastric cancer.

RESULTSThe over- expression of galectin- 3 was observed in 97% (34/35) of the gastric cancer lesions, the peritoneal metastases and the lymph node metastases,whereas in 14% (5/35) of paratumor normal tissues. There were significant differences in the expression of galectin- 3 between paratumor normal tissues and the gastric carcinoma lesions,peritoneal metastases and lymph node metastases (P< 0.05),but there were no significant differences among the gastric cancer lesions,the peritoneal metastases,and the lymph node metastases (P> 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of galectin- 3 in gastric cancer lesions can be used as a biological marker of peritoneal metastasis from gastric cancer before operation and as a prognostic factor of gastric cancer.

Galectin 3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

[Ab]stract] Objective To investigate, according to core myodynamic theory, the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at Huatuo jiaji points in treating motor dysfunction in stroke patients during the flaccid paralysis stage.Methods Sixty stroke patients in the stage of flaccid paralysis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The control group received basic treatment and conventional acupuncture and the treatment group, electroacupuncture at Huatuo jiaji points in addition. The simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) score and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) score were counted before and after treatment and the clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the FMA score and the MBI score in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the FMA score and the MBI score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 96.7% in the treatment group and 86.7% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Huatuo jiaji points has a promoting effect on the rehabilitation of limb function in the flaccid paralysis stage of stroke.

Objective To ssarch for the relationship between hemoglobulin (Hb),erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) and the altitude.Methods The altitudes of Guinan and Maduo county in Qinghai province are respectively 3200m and 4300m. The 122 healthy students aged from 7 to 14 years old were selected, Hb and EP of them were respectively determined by the methods of ferric cyanation and fluorospectrophotometry. The statistical treatment was carry out by t test and matched-pair t test.Results The Hb levels of the healthy children aged from 7 to 14 years old in Guinan and Maduo county are respectively 133 .6?10.1 and 152.8?14.0 g/L (t = 12.31, p＜0.001), the EP levels of them are respectively 320.7 ? 114.9 and 347.8 ? 123.6 ?g/L (t = 1.77, P＞0.05), the value of EP/Hh of them are respectively 2.4 ?0 .9 and 2 .3?0.8 (t = 1.12, p＞0.05). The result of matched-pair t test shows that there are not sexural difFerence for Hb, EP and EP/Hb (P＞0.05).Conclusion Along with the increasing of altitude, the Hb and EP levels of the healthy Children aged from 7 to 14 years old are obviously increased and on sexural difference.

Objective To compare the difference of the clinical efficacy on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome treated by acupuncture at stellate ganglion and by conventional acupuncture. Methods Ninety cases of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome ( at stageⅠ or stageⅡ) were randomized into treatment group and control group, 45 cases in each group. Both groups received basic rehabilitation training. Additionally, the treatment group received acupuncture at the bilateral stellate ganglions of the neck, with reducing acupuncture by rotating the needles. The control group received the conventional acupuncture on Jiquan ( HT 1) , Chize ( LU 5) , Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), Hegu (LI 4), with reducing acupuncture by lifting and thrusting the needle on Jiquan ( HT 1) and Chize ( LU 5) , and with mild reinforcing and reducong acupuncture on the other acupoints. The treatment for both groups was given once every day, and 14 times in total. The total syndrome scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, modified Fugl-Meyer Assessment of motor function scale (FMA) scores, and modified Barthel index (MBI) were observed to evaluate the changes of symptoms, pain and motor function of the upper limbs, and activity of daily life before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was also compared between the two groups. Results The total syndrome scores, VAS scores, FMA scores and the modified Barthel index were improved apparently after treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01), and the improvement in the treatment group as more obvious (all P<0.01) . The total effective rate was 93.33% (42/45) in the treatment group, which was better than 73.33% (33/45) in the control group ( P<0.05) . During the treatment, patients of both groups had good compliance, and all completed the trial. No obvious adverse reaction was found in the two groups. Conclusion Acupuncture at stellate ganglion is effective and safe for the treatment of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome, and it has higher efficiency than the conventional acupuncture.