Objective To evaluate the effect of inpatient early palliative care (EPC) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients receiving concurrent radiochemotherapy. Methods Totally 130 NPC patients were divided into the experimental group (64 cases) and the control group (66 cases) according to random digit table. Both groups received routine nursing and anti-cancer therapy, in addition, the experimental group received inpatient EPC. Psychological pain, myelosuppression and hospitalization expenses were compared between two groups. Results After the inpatient EPC intervention, the Distress Thermometer (DT) scores of the control group vs. the experimental group was 3.53±1.45 vs. 4.32±1.29, the scores of quality of life was 86.03±6.24 vs. 101.7±8.82, the incidence of myelosuppression was 95.45% (63/66) vs. 56.25%(36/64), and the hospitalization expenses of the patients was 110 862.82±4 849.58 vs 105 047.75±2 751.41 yuan, there were significant differences between the two groups (t=3.274,-11.665, Z=-6.701, t=8.441, P<0.01 or 0.05). Conclusions Inpatient EPC can be effective in reducing psychological distress, myelosuppression and the hospitalization expenses as well as improving the quality of life in NPC patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

To investigate me material basis of Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction (MFXD) for anti-inflammation and immune-suppression based on the combined method of serum chemical and serum pharmacological. The LC-MS/MS fingerprints of MFXD, drug-containing serum and blank serum were compared to define the components in plasma. Histamine, β-hexosaminidase released from RBL-2H3 cell infulenced by drug-containing serum at different time points were measured by ELISA. The effect of drug-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide-induced splenocyte proliferation at different time points were determined by MTT. A correlation analysis was made on components of MFXD and pharmacological indexes based the stepwise regression method. After the intragastrical administration with MFXD, 32 components were discovered in rat serum, including 27 prototype components (10 from Mahuang, 13 from Fuzi and four from Xixin) and five unknown components. Compared with blank serum, drug-containing serum could reduce the release of histamine from RBL-2H3 induced by antigen at different time points (P < 0.05); except the 4-hour drug-containing serum, all of the remaining drug-containing serums could inhibit the RBL-2H3 mastocyte degranulation induced by antigen at different time points (P < 0.05). Drug-containing serum could significantly lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse splenocyte proliferation at 15 and 30 min (P < 0.05). A regression analysis was made on the chemical data of components absorbed into blood and pharmacological indexes, i. e. release rate of histamine, release rate of β-hexosaminidase and inhibition rate of splenocyte. This suggested the close correlations among methyl pseudo-ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and histamine released from RBL-2H3 induced by antigen; pseudoephedrine, hypaconine, methyl pseudoephedrine and β-hexosaminidase released from RBL-2H3 induced by antigen; as well as benzoyl hypaconine, benzoylaconine, 14-benzoyl-10-OH-mesaconine, mesaconine and lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse splenocyte proliferation. Methylpseudoephedrine, pseudoephedrine, benzoyl hypaconine, benzoylaconine and mesaconine may be part of material basis of MFXD on anti-inflammation and immune suppression.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Degranulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Histamine ; immunology ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Serum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effectiveness of inverted less invasive stabilization system (LISS) and proximal femoral nail anlirotafion (PFNA) in treatment of complex unstable intertrochanteric fracture in aged, and to investigate the selective strategy of the internal fixation.

METHODSFrom February 2007 to June 2009, 47 senior patients with complex and unstable intertrochanteric fractures (Evans IV, V, R-type) were treated. Among them 23 patients were treated by inverted LISS, including 7 males and 16 females, aged from 76 to 97 years; 24 patients were treated by PFNA, including 9 males and 15 females, aged from 73 to 90 years old. The mean operating time,blood loss, intraoperative photographs frequency, incision length, length of stay, bone healing,hip function were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 8 to 18 months (averaged 13.1 months). All fractures got bone healing. No complications such as wound infection, varus and internal fixation cut out occurred. The operative time, incision length, in PFNA group had a slight ascendant than that in LISS inversion group, but there were no significant differences. According to postoperative Harris hip score outcome of LISS inversion group compared with the PFNA group, there was no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONBoth of PFNA and LISS have ideal effect in treatment of complex unstable intertrochanteric fracture in aged, and are good internal fixations.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails ; Female ; Femur ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Hip Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects and prevent the complications of posterior and anterior decompression and internal fixation in the revision of cervical anterior internal fixation failure.

METHODSFrom 2008 January to 2011 December, 17 patients with cervical anterior internal fixation failure were treated with posterior and anterior decompression and internal fixation. There were 12 males and 5 females, aged from 26 to 68 years old with an average of 44.1 years. The lower screw loosening was found in 6 cases, the upper screw loosening in 5 cases, titanium mesh caving in 3 cases, the upper screw breakage in 2 cases, the lower screw breakage in 1 case. Informations of bone fusion were observed by X-ray, CT, MRI. Clinical effects were evaluated by modified JOA score.

RESULTSAll the revision operations were successfully completed. One case with poor blood coagulation function before operation resulted in postoperative hematoma and occurred neurological symptoms; after hematoma removal and fresh frozen plasma infusion later, neurological symptoms of the patient disappeared. All patients were followed up from 6 to 38 months with an average of (22.4±10.0) months. Postoperative at 2 weeks, 3 months, and final follow-up, JOA score had obviously improved and respectively was 13.1±1.6, 13.4±1.6, 14.2±1.5. All internal fixation locations were good after revision,and obtained bone fusion at 10 months after operation, with an average fusion time of 6 months.

CONCLUSIONThe combined posterior and anterior decompression and internal fixation in the revision of cervical anterior internal fixation failure is safe, can achieve thoroughly decompression, maintain the cervical curvature, reconstruct the three column stability, and it may be used for the patients of cervical anterior fixation failure.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To design an outpatient appointment system based on ASP.NET which gains advantages over the existing system in database stability,functional module integrity and interface friendliness.Methods The ASP.NET-based system was developed with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 as the platform,Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to create data and kinds of components to establish database and application interface.Results The system enhanced hospital registration and patient satisfaction.Conclusion The system is worthy promoting for outpatient appointment in the hospital.

Objective To explore the effect of intracranial Cryptococcus neoformans (Cr.neoformans) infection on the function of fluconazole transport by breast cancer-resistance protein (BCRP),a kind of efflux transporter on the blood-brain barrier (BBB).Methods Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (6 each):normal rats received 20mg/kg fluconazole by intravenous injection (Group A),normal rats received 20mg/kg fluconazole with co-administration of pantoprazole (a kind of BCRP inhibitor) by intravenous injection (Group B),rats with intracranial Cr.neoformans infection received 20mg/kg fluconazole (Group C),and infected rats received 20mg/kg fluconazole with co-administration of pantoprazole (Group D).Microdialysis probes were implanted into the rats' striatum to continuously collect brain extracellular fluid (ECF) after the intravenous infusion of fluconazole with or without BCRP inhibitor pantoprazole.High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to measure the fluconazole concentrations in blood and brain ECF.The area under the concentration-time curves of fluconazole and the penetration of fluconazole passing though BBB were then calculated.Results Meningoencephalitis rat model was successfully established by intracerebral inoculation of Cr.neoformans.The infection significantly increased the penetration of fluconazole passing through BBB (P＜0.05).Pantoprazole did not alter the distribution of fluconazole in normal rat's brain,but significantly increased the penetration of fluconazole passing through BBB of the infected rats (P＜0.05).Conclusion Cr.neoformans infection can reduce the BBB resistance to fluconazole,and induce the efflux transport of fluconazole from the brain ECF back into the blood by BCRP.

OBJECTIVETo examine the urinary level of tissue factor (uTF) and its procoagulant activity (PCA) in patients with diabetes mellitus, and explore the relationship between uTF and renal damage in diabetes mellitus.

METHODSEighty-six patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into 3 groups according to urine albumin excretion (UACR), namely normal albuminuria group, microalbuminuria group and macroalbuminuria group. The levels of uTF, PCA, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (CRE), serum cystatin C (CYSC), glycohemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured in all the patients and 21 healthy controls.

RESULTSCompared with normal control, the diabetic patients showed significantly increased levels of uTF and PCA. The urinary TF-PCA was positively correlated to BUN, CYSC, CRE, UACR, fasting glucose and hs-CRP, but not to uTF; only hs-CRP, UACR were positively correlated to uTF.

CONCLUSIONuTF is probably implicated in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Adult ; Albuminuria ; urine ; Blood Coagulation ; Case-Control Studies ; Creatinine ; urine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; physiopathology ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thromboplastin ; urine

OBJECTIVETo construct a RNA interference vector for human tissue factor (TF) gene.

METHODSHuman TF short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequence was designed using online design software (Invitrogen) and synthesized into double-strand oligonucleotide (ds oligo), which was cloned into the pENTRTM/U6 plasmid, followed by transformation of the product into competent Top10 E. coli cells. After expansion of the transformed bacteria, the plasmid was extracted and sequenced, which was subsequently transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The interference effect of the vector on the target gene expression was detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSThe sequencing result indicated that the plasmid pENTRTM/U6-RelB-shRNA was constructed correctly, which resulted in effective inhibition of TF expression in HUVECs after transfection.

CONCLUSIONThe RNA interference vector against human TF gene has been constructed successfully, which may provide a stable transfection vector for potential treatment of blood coagulation abnormalities.

Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thromboplastin ; deficiency ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of molecular imprinting phenomena of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) on basic theories of TCMs according to current situations of molecular imprinting technology and experimental studies.

METHODFundamental principles of molecular imprinting theory were followed to analyze the material basis for TCM molecules to generate the imprinting phenomena, in order to find other material basis with more direct efficacy in line with the requirements of basic theories and modernization of TCMs.

RESULTCompared with single-component structures, TCMs and their compound components could create super-molecular compounds through complexation, composition, chelation, inclusion, neutralization, self-assembly and chemical reaction. The material basis of TCMs was super-molecular compounds including single ingredients, and there was an inter-molecule imprinting phenomenon. Therefore, special attention should be paid to inter-super-molecule imprinting actions in studies on TCM property, quality control, processing, drug preparation and pharmacology. The compatibility of TCM compounds could significantly change the action.

CONCLUSIONThe material basis of TCMs is super-molecular compounds based on single molecular groups. Super-molecules and molecular groups act rules, which is another difference between TCM compounds and single molecular drugs.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Imprinting

BACKGROUNDGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor in adults. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used in the diagnosis, characterization and clinical management of GBM. The diagnosis and treatment of GBM is largely guided by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This study aimed to identify the relationship between magnetic resonance features and molecular pathology of GBM.

METHODSMRI images of 43 glioblastoma patients were collected. Four imaging features, degree of edema, contrast tumor enhanced/T2 ratio, multiple lesions and tumor across the midline, were selected to identify their relationship with P53, Ki-67 and O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expression in patients with GBM. The relationship between imaging features and molecular pathology was studied by chi-square test using the software SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSHigh expression of P53 was found correlated with low contrast tumor enhanced/T2 ratio, low expression of Ki-67 was correlated with multiple lesions and high expression of KI-67 may be related with tumor across the midline, low expression of MGMT was correlated with edema.

CONCLUSIONSome MRI features such as the degree of edema, contrast tumor enhanced/T2 ratio, multiple lesions and tumor acrossing the midline are correlated with P53, Ki-67 and MGMT of GBM.

Edema ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glioblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism