OBJECTIVETo study the possibility of measuring quality of life by Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey scale and to subdivide grade range of Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-From Health Survey (SF-36) total cents through a Quality of Life questionnaire among the elderly Chinese.

METHODSThe quality of life of the 167 elderly Chinese in Suzhou was measured simultaneously by SF-36 and the Quality of Life questionnaire developed by Epidemiology Group of Geriatric Medicine Committee of China for the elderly. Validity and reliability were analyzed and subdivided the grade range of SF-36 total scores by Quality of Life questionnaire for the Chinese elderly.

RESULTSEight common factors from factorial analysis were in accordance with their theoretical structure, and the cumulative contribution rates of the Quality of Life questionnaire for the elderly and SF-36 were 74.244% and 72.081%. The split-half reliability of the Quality of Life questionnaire for the elderly was 0.6676. The split-half reliability of SF-36 was 0.9384. In SF-36, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of internal consistency reliability ranged from 0.81 to 0.89, which was satisfactory for group comparison except 0.63 for the social functioning and 0.42 for mental health scale and 0.69 for vitality scale. The Quality of Life questionnaire for old people seemed to have good validity and reliability but the SF-36 was better. The cent of the furthest truncation between the good quality of life and the medium one in the SF-36 was 117 with a Kappa value of 0.58.

CONCLUSIONThe SF-36 scale could be used for measuring and evaluating the quality of life for the Chinese elderly. The cent of the furthest truncation could provide reference to judge the level of the quality of life of the elderly.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Random Allocation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards

The distribution information of Lomatogonium rotatum. was collected by interview investigation and field survey, and 55 related environmental factors were collected, the habitat suitability study was conducted based on geographic information system (GIS) and maximum entropy model. The AUCs of ROC curve were both above 0.99, indicating that the predictive results with the maximum model were highly precise. The results showed that 13 major environmental factors have obvious influence on ecology suitability distributions of L. rotatum, including month average temperature of February et al., the suitable distribution areas are mainly concentrated in the east-central of Inner Mongolia, including Hexigten banner, Duolun county, Zhenglan banner et al., The zoning results basically coincide with the genuine producing areas, and further afford new suitable distribution areas, which can provide reference for L. rotatum's wild nursery and the siting of introduction and cultivation.
China ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Gentianaceae ; growth & development ; Geographic Information Systems ; Rain ; Temperature

With the development of stem cells and regenerative medicine (treatment of various diseases using stem cells) research, the induction of differentiation of human stem cell technology has also made significant progress. The development of chemical biology offers a variety of small biological molecules for stem cell biology. This review focuses on how small molecule compounds (natural and synthetic) induce differentiation of stem cells.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Regenerative Medicine ; trends ; Signal Transduction ; Small Molecule Libraries ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between tobacco smoking, drinking and p53 alteration in esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSLiterature on the relationship between p53 alteration in esophageal carcinoma and tobacco smoking, drinking through Meta-analysis were reviewed.

RESULTSIn 14 selected papers related to tobacco smoking, pooled odds ratio (OR) of tobacco smoking with P53 overexpression and p53 alteration were 1.99 (95% CI: 1.30- 3.06) and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.13 - 2.37), respectively (P < 0.05). Pooled OR of tobacco smoking with p53 mutation was 1.11 (95% CI: 0.47 - 2.76) (P > 0.05). In 11 selected papers on alcohol drinking, pooled OR of drinking with P53 overexpression, p53 mutation and p53 alteration were 1.30 (95% CI: 0.83 - 2.04), 1.13 (95% CI: 0.67 - 1.90) and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.87 - 1.72) respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were significant relations between tobacco smoking and p53 alteration while there were no significant relations between alcohol drinking and p53 alteration.

Alcohol Drinking ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, p53 ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the influence of included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S vertebral bodies on pelvic inlet imaging in the pelvic midline sagittal plane.

METHODSTotally 58 axial pelvic CT scans were chosen as study objects including 43 males and 15 females,with an average age of 40.7 years old (ranged,18 to 68 years old). The angles between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1, vertebral bodies and the horizontal plane on midline sagittal CT reconstruction were measured to simulate the optimal S2 and S1 inlet angles. The included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies was calculated by subtrocting the S1,inlet angle from the S2 inlet angle defined as a base number. Then, the impact of the calculated included angles on the pelvic inlet imaging was analyzed. Results:The S2 inlet angles averaged (30.5±6.5) degrees; the S inlet angles averaged (25.7±5.9) degrees. The difference between them was significant (t=3.35, P=0.001). Ten patients had zero angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies; 14 patients had negative angle, averaged-(8.9±8.1) degrees; 34 patients had positive angle,averaged (11.8+6.4) degrees.

CONCLUSIONThe difference of included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies leads to the difference between S1 inlet view and S2 inlet view in most cases, complicating the pelvic inlet imaging,and affecting the reliability of the application of pelvic inlet view. Utilizing the angles measured on the preoperative midlihe sagittal CT reconstruction to obatin the patient-customized S1 and S2 inlet views could accurately guide the S1 and S2 iliosacral screw insertion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; anatomy & histology ; injuries ; Spine ; anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the different effects of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and low density lipoprotein on carotid plaques (LDL-C).

METHODSA total of 101 510 serving and retired workers of a company who participated in the health examination in 2006-2009, 5852 participants were selected as study subjects by stratified random sampling according to the age and sex ratio. These subjects took their health examination in 2010-2011 including the carotid ultrasound. Finally, 5361 eligible participants with complete data were included in the analysis. The detection and weighted rates of carotid plaques were calculated for four groups: normal SBP and LDL-C group (3524 subjects), normal SBP and high LDL-C group (356 subjects), elevated SBP and normal LDL-C group (1308 subjects) and elevated SBP and high LDL-C group (173 subjects). The effects of different baseline SBP and LDL-C on detection rates of the carotid artery plaques were analyzed by logistic regression.

RESULTSThe detection rate of carotid plaques in normal SBP and LDL-C group, normal SBP and high LDL-C group, elevated SBP and normal LDL-C group, elevated SBP and high LDL-C group was 33.7% (1186/3524), 41.3% (147/356), 64.8% (847/1308), 68.8% (119/173) (χ(2) = 425.75, P < 0.05) and the weighted detection rate was 36.0%, 42.0%, 64.5% and 68.3% respectively. For men, the detection rate was 44.2% (877/1985), 51.1% (97/190), 70.6% (657/930), 71.3% (82/115) (χ(2) = 194.02, P < 0.05) and the weighted detection rate was 31.2%, 36.1%, 49.8% and 50.3% respectively. For women, the detection rate was 20.1% (309/1539), 30.1% (50/166), 50.3% (190/378), 63.8% (37/58) (χ(2) = 180.17, P < 0.05) and the weighted detection rate was 30.9%, 46.3%, 70.3%, and 88.1% respectively. After adjusted for other risk factors, the OR (95%CI) value was 1.37 (1.05 - 1.78), 2.05 (1.74 - 2.43) and 2.12 (1.45 - 3.12) for normal SBP and high LDL-C group, elevated SBP and normal LDL-C group and elevated SBP and high LDL-C group respectively compared with normal SBP and LDL-C group.

CONCLUSIONElevated SBP and high LDL-C were risk factors of the carotid artery plaques. Compared with high LDL-C, elevated SBP may add a higher risk for carotid plaques.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Stenosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Dyslipidemias ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Systole

OBJECTIVEIn order to discuss the chemical foundation of hematopoietic effect of Siwu Tang, three fractions of different polarities (C1, C2 and C3) were prepared from Siwu Tang and the characteristics of these fractions' constituents were investigated.

METHODFraction C1, C2 and C3 of Siwu Tang and corresponding fractions of Siwu Tang's four ingredient drugs were analyzed and compared, synthetically using the three methods of high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).

RESULTFraction C1 of Siwu Tang contained various types of compounds, including ferulic acid, paeoniflorin and supposedly ligustilide, etc. Saccharide content in fraction C1 was very little. The major constituents in fraction C2 of Siwu Tang were paeoniflorin, monosaccaride and disaccharide. The major constituents in fraction C3 of Siwu Tang were monosaccaride and disaccharide.

CONCLUSIONWith synthetical chromatographic and direct infusion ESI-MS methods, abundant information on composition of fractions of traditional Chinese medicine formulas can be obtained. The results gained with different methods can be compared with each other and corroborate each other, so that the obtained information can be more comprehensive and more definite than that gained with single method. The results of this study are important as references for the discussion of the chemical foundation of hematopoietic effect of Siwu Tang.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Benzoates ; analysis ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; Disaccharides ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Monosaccharides ; analysis ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo discuss the early diagnostic methods and therapeutic principles of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy objectively.

METHODSUsing neuro-imaging examinations combined with case history and clinical symptoms to make the early diagnosis of 96 case with aneurysmal SAH, and Guglielmi detachable microcoil (GDC) was utilized for early intracapsular embolization in the ruptured aneurysms. Efficient symptomatic treatment was done early after operation.

RESULTSAll of 96 cases were early diagnosed and successfully embolized; Among them, the aneurysmal lumen was 100% occluded in 83 cases, 95% in 8 cases, 90% in 5 cases. There were 3 cases complicating with aneurysms rupture during operation, 5 cases with cerebral vasospasm. One case was affected by microcoil terminal escape after operation, 3 recurrent cases were all cured with secondary GDC embolization. There were 9 complications associated with embolization techniques and 13 cases (13.5%) occurring permanent sequelae associated with SAH. According to the Glasgow prognosis score, 77 patients got grade I, 7 grade II, 6 grade III, 3 grade IV, and 3 grade V. The mortality rate was 3.1%.

CONCLUSIONSTo make early etiological diagnosis of the SAH patients, using GDC to embolize the aneurysms, and earlier efficient symptomatic treatment are important methods to improve the curative rate and reduce the mortality rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Angiography ; methods ; Early Diagnosis ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of vasomotor functions in aortas segments from Wistar rats between 1-hour and 6-hours after exposure of water-soluble components of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

METHODSAll 30 Wistar rats were assigned to five groups (n=6 for each group) at random: the blank control group, control group for 1-hour and 6-hours, exposure group for 1-hour and 6-hours. The rats were sacrificed 1-hour or 6-hours later and aorta ring segments were mounted on wire myographs.

RESULTS(1) There was no significant difference in vasomotor functions among three control groups (P>0.05). (2) 1-hour or 6-hours after exposure there was a decrease of contraction elicited by 60 mmol/L KCl in contrast to the control group (P<0.05), whereas no significant change between the exposure group for 1-hour and 6-hours (P>0.05). (3) On the level of 10(-5) or 10(-7) mol/L, 1-hour after exposure there was a decrease in endothelium-dependent acetylcholine (ACh) elicited relaxation precontracted by 10(-6) mol/L NE compared with the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05), on the level from 10(-5) to 10(-7) mol/L there was a decrease compared with the exposure group for 6-hours (P<0.05), whereas no difference between the exposure group for 6-hours and the control group (P>0.05). On the level from 10(-5) to 10(-9) mol/L, 1-hour after exposure there was a decrease in endothelium-independent sodium nitroprusside (SNP) elicited relaxation precontracted by 10(-6) mol/L NE as compared with the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and a decrease on the level of 10(-6) or 10(-9) mol/L compared with the exposure group for 6-hours (P<0.05), 6-hours after exposure a decrease was caused as compared with the control group on the level from 10(-5) to 10(-7) mol/L (P<0.01 or P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInhibition of contraction and impairment of relaxation in aortas should be caused 1-hour after exposure to water-soluble components of PM2.5 in the air, which is weaken 6-hours after exposure.

Acetylcholine ; blood ; Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Male ; Particulate Matter ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effect of gold standard, blind comparison and different cut-points choosing on screening techniques assessment, and to promote the application of evidence-based medicine theory in screening study.

METHODSA screening study for cervical cancer in rural China in 1999, where 1997 women had been tested for pathology as gold standard and simulating situations without gold standard, blind comparison and under different cut-points. Indices such as detectable rate, sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each technique. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were drawn and areas under ROC curves between screening techniques were tested.

RESULTSWithout gold standard, diagnostic techniques could not be evaluated correctly, and without the blind comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of the tests would be subjectively increased. Furthermore, use of different cut-points led to different sensitivities and specificities of test.

CONCLUSIONSGold standard, blind comparison and perfect cut-points can improve the quality of screening test and drawing ROC curves is an effective way to confirm cut-points and evaluate diagnostic techniques. It is necessary to enforce the application of evidence-based medicine theory in scientific research.

Adult ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; methods ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Technology Assessment, Biomedical ; methods ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; prevention & control