Objective To compare the effects of BOSU ball exercise and treadmill walking on lower limbs function in patients after stroke. Methods 40 patients more than 6 months after stroke were randomly divided into BOSU ball group (n=20) and treadmill group (n=20), who accepted BOSU ball or treadmill exercise on the basis of routine rehabilitation. They were assessed with Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 30-s chair stand (CS-30), sit and reach (SR), 6 minutes walk test (6MWT) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and 12 weeks after treatment. Results The scores of all the assessment improved in both groups after treatment (P<0.05), and the socres of BBS and MBI improved more in the BOSU ball group than in the treadmill group (P<0.05). Conclusion BOSU ball exercise can improve more of the balance and activities of daily living in post-stroke patient than treadmill walking.

Objective To compare the dosimetric difference on organ at risk (OAR) in intensitymodulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) in treatment with cervical carcinoma. Methods 36 cases of cervical cancer patients accepted radiotherapy both on IMRT and 3D-CRT in the same time,clinical target volume (CTV) focused on primary tumor and its lymphatic drainage area.Lymphatic drainage area was determined as follows:1.0 cm extension were added to the margin of pelvic vessels,the obturator lymph nodes region was extended by 1.8 cm from the pelvis inner margin.CTV does not include pelvic tissue. Data of dose distribution and irradiation volume of OAR on the basis of distributing on 45 Gy and 50 Gy were analyzed individually. The margins of planning target volume (PTV) was obtained based on CTV margins by which added 1.0 cm extension in inferior and superior directions,0.7 cm were added in all other directions. Results With the comparison of variety on irradiation volume of organs at risk (OAR) by DVH in both groups,underlying the treatment dose 45 Gy,the individual volume of D30,D40 and D45 were all lesser in IMRT plan than that of 3D-CRT plan. Even on the dose 50 Gy at pelvic wall lymph nodes regions,the volume of OAR was lesser than that in 3D-CRT plan.Conclusion In the radiotherapy of cervical cancer,IMRT should have improved protections for tumor surrounding OAR which has domestic superiority in clinical application.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic orlistat and imported orlistat in Chinese overweight and obese patients. Methods In a randomized, double-blinded and positive-controlled study, 228 adults (BMI 24-< 40 kg/m~2) evaluated at seven research centers were randomized to receive domestic orlistat or imported orlistat 120 mg 3 times a day with an energy-controlled diet for 24 weeks. Results After 24 weeks, domestic orlistat treated patients got significant weight-loss (5.0±3.7) kg, which was comparable with that of imported orlistat treated patients (4.5±3.5) kg (P=0.3922).Compared with the findings before treatment, there was significant decrease of systolic blood pressure (4.4±11.5)mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and serum levels of TC (0.54±0.79) mmol/L and LDL-C (0.32±0.64) mmol/L in the domestic orlistat treated group(compared with levels of baseline, P< 0. 0001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the changes of blood pressure and lipid levels. Both groups had similar adverse event profiles, most of which were mild and transient gastrointestinal events. There were no serious adverse events in beth groups. Conclusions Domestic orlistat combined with a light low-energy diet promoted significant weight loss, which was comparable with that of imported orlistat after 24 weeks of treatment. There was also improvement in blood pressure and serum levels of TC and LDL-C. Domestic orlistat was as effective and safe as imported orlistat in the treatment of obesity.

Two hundreds postmenopausal women with osteopenia, aged 45-80, were randomly divided into 4 groups, and received different drug interventions. After treatment for 12 months, the lumbar spine bone mineral density(BMD)and total hip BMD in alendronate group increased significantly(3.5% and 2.6%, both P＜0.05), the lumbar spine BMD raised 2.0% in selective estrogen receptor regulator group(P＜0.05). Bone turnover indices improved in both groups(all P＜0.05). No change in BMD or bone turnover indices was found in patients treated with active vitamin D3and calcium.

Objective To investigate the radiosensitizing effects of artesunate on human HeLa cells of cervical cancer in vitro.Methods Hela cells were irradiated with 60Co γ-rays.The dose rate was 0.635 Gy/min and the radiation dose was 0,1,2,4,6 Gy,respectively.The anti-proliferation activities of artesunate on HeLa cells were evaluated with MTT assay,to determine the most appropriate drug concentration.The effect of radiosensitivity was observed by using clonogenic assay.The single-hit multitarget model was used to plot the HeLa cell's dose-survival curve,to calculate mean lethal dose,quasithreshold dose and sensitization enhancement rate,and to evaluate its radiosensitization effect.The apoptosis was analyzed with flow cytometry (FCM) to further test the radiation senseitization of artesunate on HeLa cells.Results The inhibition of artesunate on HeLa cells increased with concentration.In radiation group,the cell cloning efficiency were 91.67% ,82.02% ,58.60% ,25.01%,respectively,and in artesunate (2.0 μ mol/L) + radiation group,the cell cloning efficiency were 74.93% ,60.53% ,22.38% ,5.05%.In radiation group and artesunate (2.0 μmol/L) + radiation group,the mean lethal dose(D0) was 2.95 and 2.07 Gy,respectively,while the qusai-threshold dose (Dq) were 2.01 and 1.24 Gy,respectively,and SER was 1.43.Compared with 2 and 6 Gy radiation group,the apoptosis rate of drug + radiation group increased from 12.26% ,40.08% to 22.71% ,59.92%.Conclusions The inhibiting effect of artesunate on HeLa cells is concentration-dependent.Artesunate has radiosensitizing effect on HeLa cells in vitro.

Objective To evaluate the effect of artemether on the cell cycle and the radiosensitivity in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-1.Methods Cell growth inhibition was assessed with MTT.The method of colony-forming was used to detect the radiation sensitivity.Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by using flow cytometry.The protein expressions of clyclin B1 and Weei were detected by using Western blot.Results The growth of CNE-1 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner.The concentration of 20 μmol/L artemether had radiosensitive effect on CNE-1 cells at 24 h after administration,and SER was 1.481.When CNE-1 cell was irradiated,the G2/M cells increased (t =4.59,P ＜ 0.05).After exposure to combination of artemether and irradiation,the G2/M cells were decreased (t= 10.60,P ＜ 0.05).Western blot showed that artemether increased the level of cyclin B1 expression and inhibited the level of Weel expression.Conclusions The noncytotoxic concentration of artemether could enhance radiosensitization of CNE-1 cells.The radiosensitivity enhancement of artemether might depend on the exposure time.The effect is most obvious when radiation is delivered 24 h after expose to artemetherr.The radiosensitizing effect could be related to apoptosis.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the outcomes of wake-up stroke (WUS) patients with occlusion of large vessel occlusion (LVO), who were selected for mechanical thrombectomy according to the mismatch of Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) based on arterial spin labeling (ASL) and diffusion-weighted image (DWI) on admission magnetic resonance (MR) scans. Methods Twelve consecutive WUS patients with acute LVO of the anterior circulation undergoing MR scans with ASL and DWI prior to thrombectomy were retrospectively evaluated. The mismatch of ASPECTS was defined as the difference between ASL-ASPECTS and DWI-ASPECTS, and a higher score indicates a greater mismatch. Results The procedures led to successful reperfusion in all the cases (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction Grade 2b-3). Eleven patients (91.7％) had significantly decreased National Institute of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS) score at discharge. A mRS score of≤2 at 90 days was achieved in 8 of the 12 patients (66.7％). Conclusion The mismatch between ASPECTS assessed based on ASL and DWI can detect a true mismatch in patients with acute LVO of the anterior circulation, and can be used for rapid screening of patients eligible for thrombectomy.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the outcomes of wake-up stroke (WUS) patients with occlusion of large vessel occlusion (LVO), who were selected for mechanical thrombectomy according to the mismatch of Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) based on arterial spin labeling (ASL) and diffusion-weighted image (DWI) on admission magnetic resonance (MR) scans. Methods Twelve consecutive WUS patients with acute LVO of the anterior circulation undergoing MR scans with ASL and DWI prior to thrombectomy were retrospectively evaluated. The mismatch of ASPECTS was defined as the difference between ASL-ASPECTS and DWI-ASPECTS, and a higher score indicates a greater mismatch. Results The procedures led to successful reperfusion in all the cases (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction Grade 2b-3). Eleven patients (91.7％) had significantly decreased National Institute of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS) score at discharge. A mRS score of≤2 at 90 days was achieved in 8 of the 12 patients (66.7％). Conclusion The mismatch between ASPECTS assessed based on ASL and DWI can detect a true mismatch in patients with acute LVO of the anterior circulation, and can be used for rapid screening of patients eligible for thrombectomy.

The effects of tacrolimus postconditioning on protein-serine-threonine kinases (Akt) phosphorylation and apoptotic cell death in rats after spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury were investigated. Ninety male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, ischemia-reperfusion group and tacrolimus postconditioning group. The model of spinal cord ischemia was established by means of catheterization through femoral artery and balloon dilatation. The spinal cord was reperfused 20 min after ischemia via removing saline out of balloon. The corresponding spinal cord segments were excised and determined for Akt activity in spinal cord tissue by using Western blotting at 5, 15, and 60 min after reperfusion respectively. Spinal cord tissue sections were stained immunohistochemically for detection of the phosphorylated Akt expression at 15 min after reperfusion. Flow cytometry was applied to assess apoptosis of neural cells, and dry-wet weights method was employed to measure water content in spinal cord tissue at 24 h after reperfusion. The results showed that the activities of Akt in tarcolimus postconditioning group were significantly higher than those in ischemia-reperfusion group at 5, 15, and 60 min after reperfusion (P<0.05, P<0.01). The Akt activities reached the peak at 15 min after reperfusion in ischemia-reperfusion group and tacrolimus postconditioning group. The percentage of apoptotic cells and water content in spinal cord tissue were significantly reduced (P<0.01) in tacrolimus postconditioning group as compared with those in ischemia-reperfusion group at 24 h after reperfusion. It is concluded that tacrolimus post-conditioning can increase Akt activity in spinal cord tissue of rats, inhibit apoptosis of neural cells as well as tissue edema, and thereby alleviate spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Spinal Cord Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Tacrolimus ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVEThrough questionnaire and screening, epidemiology of syphilis in pregnant women and related risk factors were studied, to develop effective policy and reducing the negative impact of the disease.

METHODSAll pregnant women who appeared at the hospitals the first time, were included, in Shenzhen city. Tolulized Red Unheated Serum Test (TRUST) method was used for primary screening and positive results were confirmed by the Treponema Pallidum Particle Agglutination (TPPA) test at the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention (SZCDC). Positive patients were informed and treated and the pregnancies were managed accordingly at the SZCDC.

RESULTSFrom 2003-2005, 418,871 (94.7%) pregnant were screened. Epidemiological and treatment data were collected from 2019 positive cases of infectious syphilis (0.48%). Among them, 94.2% were between 20 and 35 years old, with 93.6% of them had only junior high school education and 63.4% of them worked as commercial services or jobless which was significantly higher than other occupations (OR = 8.628). 89.5% of them were from other cities, significantly higher than from local residents (OR = 8.733). Gestational weeks at original diagnosis was longer and the infection rate higher.

CONCLUSIONThe infection rate of syphilis in Shenzhen was still at a high level which was related to occupation, education level, place of residency, gestational weeks at first diagnosis etc. Further screening measures and early intervention were important.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Syphilis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Young Adult