OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Jingui Shengqi Pill in treating partial androgen deficiency in aging males (PADAM), and to explore the new approach in improving the quality of life in PADAM patients.

METHODSForty patients with PADAM were treated with JSP, the efficacy was evaluated with international index of erectile function (IIEF) scoring, PADAM questionnaire scoring, hormone, prostatic specific antigen (PSA), etc., and the data before treatment were compared with those after treatment in the same group.

RESULTSAfter 3 months of treatment, PADAM scoring and IIEF scoring were all significantly improved. Symptoms regarding physical ability, vasomotion, and psychical and mental condition all got improved more markedly than symptoms regarding sexual hypofunction. The serum level of testosterone was 3.85 +/- 0.36 before treatment and 5.02 +/- 0.83 after treatment (P < 0.05); luteinizing hormone of 7.33 +/- 2.14 and 4.84 +/- 1.43 (P < 0.01), follicle-stimulating hormone of 10.22 +/- 4.48 and 6.47 +/- 3.28 (P < 0.01), respectively. The level of PSA failed to change significantly (1.94 +/- 0.55 and 2.06 +/- 0.47, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJSP is effective and safe in treating PADAM, the mechanism of it is different from supplementing extrinsic androgen. It may have produced the effect by means of favorably regulating the condition of sex hormone to improve the balance of pituitary-sex gland axis, so it has more extensive clinical application.

Aged ; Androgens ; deficiency ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To investigate the metabolic alterations in the brain of neonates with HIE and correlate those alterations with clinical grading and prognosis of HIE.Methods Fourty-six eases of full-term neonates diagnosed as HIE clinically were performed MRI and 1~H-MRS,9 healthy neonates without the evidence of asphyxia were studied as controls,1~H-MRS techniques included single voxel proton MRS and two dimensional muhi-voxel chemical shift spectroscopy imaging,point resolved spectroscopy sequence was used for 1~H-MRS.Metabolic changes in the spectroscopy were analyzed in neonates with HIE,and study the relationgship between MRS findings and prognosis.Results(1)The typical 1~H-MRS manifestations of full- term neonates suffering from HIE were as follows:the peaks of Lac were elevated,GLx-? were elevated and NAA were decreased.(2)GLx-?/Cr ratio in control,mild,moderate and severe HIE group was 0.16, 0.21,0.64,and 1.31,respectively.Lac/Cr ratio in control,mild,moderate and severe HIE group was 0.12,0.14,0.19,and 0.26,respectively.There was a significant difference in the ratio of GLx-? and Lac/Cr between HIE group and control group(t=5.01,P

Objective To explore the relationship between social norms and smoking intention, among male smokers in China. Methods A total 3 621 (with 95.8% of effective response rate) male smokers were selected and investigated with questionnaires from August to November in 2013.Univariate logistic regressions and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to find the associations between social norms, smoking intention and quitting attempts. Results Smokers perceived low pro-quitting social norms from their family members, friends and other people around.With a 1 point increase in pro-quitting social norms score, smokers′ willingness to quit in the next 6 months increased by 69% (OR=1.69, 95%CI:1.48-1.94), and smokers were 86% more likely to quit(OR=1.86, 95%CI:1.66-2.08). Conclusion Pro-quitting social norms is proved to be an independent predictor for smoking intention, quitting attempts among male smokers in China.Therefore, future intervention should aim to establish pro-quitting social norms for smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of Qingre Quyu Granule (QQG) on the patients with severe carotid stenosis, and to explore the mechanism of it.

METHODSNinety-six patients with severe carotid stenosis were enrolled in the study and were classified into a QQG group (n=48) and a control group (n=48) randomly using consecutively numbered envelopes. The patients in the QQG group were given QQG and Western medicine, those in the control group were given Western medicine merely, the course of treatment was 16 weeks. All patients went through endarterectomy after treatment. Plaques were subjected to the analysis of CD3, CD68, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9), CD40L, tenascin-C, and collagen content lipid content by immunohistochemistry or polarized light analysis.

RESULTSBy the end of experiment, the expressions of CD3, CD68, ICAM-1, MMP9, CD40L and tenascin-C on the plaques were statistically significant lower in the QQG group compared with the control group(P<0.01). The lipid content of the plaque was also significantly lower in the QQG group compared with the control group (P<0.01). The interstitial collagen in the tissue sections of the plaques was also significantly higher in the QQG group in comparison with the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONQQG could stabilize carotid artery plaques through inhibiting pro-inflammation factors and restraining the tenascin-C and MMP9 pathway.

Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; CD3 Complex ; metabolism ; CD40 Ligand ; metabolism ; Carotid Arteries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carotid Stenosis ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; complications ; pathology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Tenascin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETriple-negative [estrogen receptor (ER)-/progesterone receptor (PR)-/HER2-] breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for ∼ 15% of overall breast cancer and associated with a poor prognosis. There is a short of standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for TNBC. A number of studies have shown that TNBC might be sensitive to cisplatin and carboplatin on the basis that dysfunction of BRCA1 and its pathway is associated with a specific DNA-repair defect, but data of adjuvant setting about this is limited.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to September 2011, 95 early triple-negative breast cancer patients confirmed by pathology were randomly assigned to receive TP (docetaxel 75 mg/m², carboplatin AUC = 5, day 1, 21 days a cycle for 6 cycles) or EC-T (epirubicin 90 mg/m², cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m², d1, 21 days a cycle for 4 cycles, followed by docetaxel 80 mg/m², d1, 21 days a cycle for 4 cycles) chemotherapy. Adjuvant radiation therapy was given selectively after chemotherapy. Here we report a preliminary safety analysis with the chi-square test.

RESULTSSeventy-six out of the 95 patients had completed the chemotherapy and could be assessed for the safety profiles of the regimens. Thirty-seven of them were in the EC-T group with a median age of 47 years, and 21 out of these 37 patients were premenopausal (56.8%). Another 39 patients came from the TP group with a median age of 46 years, and 22 out of these 39 patients were premenopausal (56.4%). All of the 37 patients in EC-T group completed the planned treatment whereas 2 patients of the 39 cases in TP group did not because of bone marrow suppression. During the treatments, 9 patients had dose adjustment in each group. Adverse events of grade 1/2 were common. Specific incidence of adverse events with grade 3/4 in each group was as follows: alopecia, 29.7% vs. 10.3% (P = 0.033), vomiting 21.6% vs. 7.7% (P = 0.085), leukopenia 54.1% vs.25.6% (P = 0.011) and neutropenia 51.4% vs. 35.9% (P = 0.174). Other grade 3/4 toxicities were rare. All the adverse events (except peripheral neuropathy and pigmentation) recovered within 1 month after the chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONBoth EC-T and TP regimens as adjuvant chemotherapy are safe and tolerable for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer patients, while the TP regimen has advantages with less grade III/IV alopecia and leukopenia.

Adult ; Aged ; Alopecia ; chemically induced ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Premenopause ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; Vomiting ; chemically induced

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between genetic variantions of circadian clock genes and risk of breast cancer.

METHODSA case-control study including 406 breast cancer patients and 412 controls was conducted and genes Clock (rs2070062) and Per2 (rs2304672, rs2304669, rs934945) were genotyped by TaqMan real-time PCR. Unconditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between the genetic polymorphisms and breast cancer.

RESULTSIndividuals with the rs2304669-TT genotype showed significantly increased breast cancer risk with the OR of 2.33 when compared with the individuals with rs2304669-CC and CT genotypes (P = 0.001). In addition, the three haplotypes containing the risk T allele of rs2304669 were identified to be associated with increased breast cancer risk. However, it was found that rs2304672, rs2070062 and rs934945 polymorphisms were not related with breast cancer risk.

CONCLUSIONSThe locus rs2304669 on Per2 gene is associated with breast cancer risk. Genetic variation of circadian clock genes may increase the susceptibility to breast cancer. Therefore, it may become an important biomarker of susceptibility to breast cancer.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; CLOCK Proteins ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Period Circadian Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors

Objective To analyze the clinical data of 12 children with advanced Wlims' tumor in children from Feb.2009 to Jun.2012.All cases were diagnosed by pathology and to analysis the clinic efficacy and treatment experience were analyzed.Methods Of 12 patients,10 cases were male and 2 cases were female.The medium age of 12 patients was 2.54 years old(9 months-15 years old).According to pathological stage and clinical stage of The National Wilms' Tumor Study Group(NWTSG),5 cases belonged to stage lⅢ,and 7 cases stage Ⅳ.Six cases were well-differentiated tissue type,and 6 cases were poorly differentiated tissue type according to NWTSG.In all patients,different ways of chemotherapy and radiotherapy were selected according to clinical stage and tissue type differentiation.If a patient had repeated recurrence after common surgery and chemotherapy,would treated by antologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation(APBSCT).Statistic analysis was used to analyze the clinical characters and efficacy and prognosis for 12 patients.Results 1.Initial symptoms:in 12 cases,8 cases presented abdominal mass (66.6％),2 cases with abdominal pain and fever(12.7％),and 2 cases with hematuria(12.7％).2.Eleven cases followed up to Jan.2013,the medium time was 31.5 months(8-131 months).Of 12 cases,1 case give up therapy and follow-up and 11 cases were followed up.Of those 11 cases followed-up,4 cases had complete remission(CR),and 1 case had remission in part(PR),the conditions of 5 cases were progressively worse,1 case replapsed,and 4 patients died.Total survival rate was 63.63％ (7/11 cases),and mortality was 36.37％ (4/11 cases),and free survival rate was 36.37％ (4/11 cases),of that,1 patient of stage Ⅳ,relapsed 3 times after common radiotherapy and chemotherapy,achieved complete remission after high dose chemotherapy (Melphalan + Carboplatin + Etoposide,CEM) and APBSCT.The estimated 3-yearsurvival rate was 51.4％.Conclusions The prognosis of advanced Wilms' tumor is poor,and the mortality is still high.High dose chemotherapy with APBSCT may be a valuable method for advanced cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Only moderate to severe Crohn's Disease (CD) patients without a satisfactory conventional therapy effect are eligible to get reimbursement from the National Health Insurance of Taiwan for using adalimumab. These are more stringent criteria than in many Western countries and Japan and Korea. We aim to explore the efficacy of using adalimumab in CD patients under such stringent criteria. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in nine medical centers in Taiwan and we collected the results of CD patients receiving adalimumab from Sep 2009 to Mar 2014. The clinical characteristics, response measured by CDAI (Crohn's Disease Activity Index), adverse events and survival status were recorded and analyzed. CR-70, CR-100, and CR-150 were defined as attaining a CDAI decrease of 70, 100 or 150 points compared with baseline. RESULTS: A total of 103 CD patient records were used in this study. Sixty percent of these patients received combination therapy of adalimumab together with immunomodulators. CR-70 was 68.7%, 74.5% and 88.4% after week 4, 8 and 12 of treatment, respectively. The steroid-free rate, complications and survival were 47.6%, 9.7% and 99% of patients, respectively. In considering the mucosal healing, only 25% patients achieve mucosal healing after treatment for 6 to12 months. Surgery was still needed in 16.5% of patients. Combination treatment of adalimumab with immunomodulators further decreased the level of CDAI at week 8 when compared with the monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Even under the stringent criteria for using adalimumab, the response rate was comparable to those without stringent criteria.
Adalimumab ; Crohn Disease* ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Japan ; Korea ; National Health Programs ; Retrospective Studies ; Taiwan*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between a diverse of clinical factors and bone metastases of prostate cancer.

METHODSThe clinical data of 80 patients with prostate cancer were collected and analyzed. The correlations of age, alkaline phosphotase (ALP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Gleason score, and expressions of androgen receptor (AR) and Ki-67 with bone metastases were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Logistic regression analysis. The cutoff value, sensitivity and specificity of the independent correlation factors were calculated.

RESULTSForty-five of the 80 patients (56%) were found to have bone metastasis, who had significantly older age and higher levels of ALP, PSA, ESR, Gleason score, and expressions of AR and Ki-67 than those without bone metastasis (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified PSA, Gleason score and AR expression as independent factors correlated with bone metastasis with OR (95% CI) of 1.005 (1.001, 1.009) (P=0.008), 5.356 (1.431, 20.039) (P=0.013), and 18.594 (2.460, 140.524) (P=0.005), respectively. The cutoff values of PSA, Gleason Score and AR were 67.1 ng/ml, 7.5, and 2.5, respectively; their sensitivities were 55.6%, 75.6%, and 84.0% for predicting bone metastasis with specificities of 97.1%, 82.9%, and 91.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONOf the factors analyzed, PSA, Gleason score and AR expression, but not age, ALP, PSA, ESR, or Ki-67 expression, are the predictive factors of bone metastasis of prostate cancer.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Receptors, Androgen ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUNDComputed tomography (CT) is better than routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting intracranial calcification. This study aimed to assess the value of MR susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in the detection and differentiation of intracranial calcification and hemorrhage.

METHODSEnrolled in this study were 35 patients including 13 cases of calcification demonstrated by CT and 22 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage. MR sequences used in all the subjects included axial T1WI, T2WI and SWI. The phase shift (PS) of calcification and hemorrhage on SWI was calculated and their signal features on corrected phase images were compared. The sensitivity of T1WI, T2WI and SWI in detecting intracranial calcification and hemorrhage was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe detection rate of SWI for cranial calcification was 98.2%, significantly higher than that of T1WI and T2WI. It was not significantly different from that of CT (P > 0.05). There were 49 hemorrhagic lesions at different stages detected on SWI, 30 on T2WI and 18 on T1WI. The average PS of calcification and hemorrhage was +0.734 +/- 0.073 and -0.112 +/- 0.032 respectively (P < 0.05). The PS of calcification was positive and presented as a high signal or the mixed signal dominated by a high signal on the corrected phase images, whereas the PS of hemorrhage was negative and presented as a low signal or the mixed signal dominated by a low signal.

CONCLUSIONSSWI can accurately demonstrate intracranial calcification, not dependant on CT. Being more sensitive than routine MRI in detecting micro-hemorrhage, SWI may play an important role in differentiating cerebral diseases associated with calcification or hemorrhage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Diseases ; diagnosis ; Calcinosis ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged