No abstract available.
Primary Myelofibrosis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on stress response and power in psychiatric inpatients in a closed ward. METHODS: For this study a quasi-experiment design was used to examine the effects of the intervention. The MBSR program conducted in this study was a six-session program, in which participants were asked to meditate for 45 minutes twice a week for 3 weeks. Homogeneity between the experimental and control group was assessed using χ² test, t-test, and Fisher's exact test. The results of the assessment showed that the variances of the two groups were equal. Demographic variables of the study participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study hypotheses were verified using t-test. Cronbach's α was measured to assess the reliability of each test. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, patients in the experimental group showed significant improvement in scores for stress response (t=3.62, p=.001) and power (t=-3.42, p=.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the mindfulness meditation program can be used as a psychosocial rehabilitation intervention for psychiatric inpatients by capitalizing on its positive effects on emotional reactivity and behavioral regulation.
Humans ; Inpatients* ; Meditation ; Mindfulness ; Psychiatric Nursing ; Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Fracture of the scaphoid constitute 60% to 70% of all diagnosed carpal injury. The acute fracture will heal approximately 90% of the time if recognized early and properly immobilized. But nonunion are common since the symtoms do not alert patients to seek early medical treatment and the diagnosis is easily missed. Authors have experienced 19 cases of scaphoid nonunion and accomplished good result in all case by Russe procedure. The results were summerized as follow: 1 The cause of fratures was mainly due to fall down dinjury (36.8%). 2. The most common mechanism of the fracture was fall on the outstretched hand (52.7%). 3. Fractures were shown on the anterior-posterior, lateral and billiards view in all cases. 4. In ten cases, the fractures were found on the waist of scaphoid. 5. The cases of nonunion were probably inadequate intial treatment and delayed diagnosis. 6. The good results were obtained by bone graft according to Russe procedure.
Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Transplants

Ganglia are ubiquitous but periosteal ganglion is rare. This case is presented showing an unusual radiological picture. The radiological picture with honey combed appearance is striking. Previaus reports have stressed the concavity in the cortex. Histologically the structure is identical to that of soft tissue ganglia.
Animals ; Comb and Wattles ; Ganglia ; Ganglion Cysts ; Honey ; Strikes, Employee

PURPOSE: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-beta family and play an important role in cellular growth. Recent reports suggest that exogenous bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) acts as an antiproliferative agent in a variety of cell lines. We will study whether BMP-2 is altered in human colorectal cancer. METHODS: We analyzed 40 colorectal cancer cases and 6 colorectal cancer cell lines by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine the expression of BMP-2. RESULTS: Thirteen of 40 colorectal cancers (33%) and 3 of 6 colorectal cancer cell lines (50%) revealed decreased expression of BMP-2. The rates of decreased expression were 0% (0/7), 42.1% (8/19), 28.6% (2/7), 33.3% (2/6), and 100% (1/1) in stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Histologically, the rates were 33.3% (2/6), 32.2% (10/21), 50% (1/2), and 0% (0/1) in well-differentiated, moderately-differentiated, poorly-differentiated and mucinous cancers, respectively. As for location, the rates for colon and rectal cancers were 27.8% (5/18) and 36.4% (8/22), respectively. We identified methylation in the CpG island of the BMP-2 gene in 60% of colorectal cancer cells and in 50% of colorectal cancer cell lines. The 13 cases without BMP-2 gene expression showed no significant correlation with clinicopathological factors. Epigenetic silencing through DNA methylation is one of the key steps during carcinogenesis. CONCLUSION: We found, through an analysis using the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction technique, CpG island methylation of the BMP-2 promoter region in colorectal cancer. Thus, aberrant BMP-2 methylation and the resultant loss of BMP-2 expression may be related to colorectal carcinogenesis.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; Cell Line ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Methylation ; Mucins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rectal Neoplasms

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to evaluate physiological significances of expression of immediate early gene proteins in the vestibular nuclear complex by change of arterial pressure (AP) in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Record AP and inject either sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or phenylnephrine to change AP. Either fast or slow removal of blood from the femoral artery was made to induce different rapidity in reduction of AP. Blood supply to the inner ear was temporally blocked by clamping anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA). Immunohistochemical staining and image analysis for cFos, FosB, Krox, and JunB proteins were performed 2, 6, 12 hours after change of AP. RESULTS: The selective expression of cFos protein was observed in the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) following reduction of AP. The number of cFos positive neurons peaked at 2 hours and then rapidly reduced, returning to the normal value 24 hours after SNP injection. And cFos protein expression was also well correlated with that of AP reduction at 2 hours of SNP injection. The rapid falling of AP caused a significant expression of cFos protein but slow withdrawal of blood did a minimal change of cFos protein expression. In addition, there was a significant expression of cFos protein following the increase of AP by single injection of phenylnephrine. Unilateral occlusion of AICA resulted in the significant expression of cFos protein in bilateral MVN. Furthermore, bilateral ablation of vestibular endorgans resulted in significant reduction of cFos expression by AICA occlusion in MVN. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that cFos protein is a marker for neuronal excitation in vestibular complex in response to rapid changes in the arterial blood pressure and that medial vestibular nuclei plays an important role in signaling the process of cardiovascular information coming from the peripheral vestibular apparatus.
Adult* ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure* ; Arteries ; Blood Pressure ; Constriction ; Ear, Inner ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Neurons ; Nitroprusside ; Proteins ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reference Values ; Vestibular Nuclei ; Vestibule, Labyrinth

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a fatal acute diabetic complication, is characterized by severe metabolic decompensation and intravascular volume depletion. These conditions may result in hypercoagulability and prothrombic state. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) could be presented as an uncommon and life-threatening complication of DKA. Reported herein is a case involving a 54-year-old male patient who was admitted with DKA due to chronic alcohol consumption and stopping the intake of oral antidiabetic drugs. After low-molecular-weight heparin and warfarin treatment because of PTE during the DKA treatment, the patient's condition improved over the week that he was discharged on insulin and warfarin.
Alcohol Drinking ; Anticoagulants ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Insulin ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thrombophilia ; Warfarin

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most-common cause of neurodegenerative dementia, and it is characterized by abnormal amyloid and tau accumulation, which indicates neurodegeneration. AD has mostly been diagnosed clinically. However, ligand-specific positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, such as amyloid PET, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are needed to accurately diagnose AD, since they supplement the shortcomings of clinical diagnoses. Using biomarkers that represent the pathology of AD is essential (particularly when disease-modifying treatment is available) to identify the corresponding pathology of targeted therapy and for monitoring the treatment response. Although imaging and CSF biomarkers are useful, their widespread use is restricted by their high cost and the discomfort during the lumbar puncture, respectively. Recent advances in AD blood biomarkers shed light on their future use for clinical purposes. The amyloid β (Aβ)42/Aβ40 ratio and the concentrations of phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 and at threonine 217, and of neurofilament light in the blood were found to represent the pathology of Aβ, tau, and neurodegeneration in the brain when using automatic electrochemiluminescence technologies, single-molecule arrays, immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry, etc. These blood biomarkers are imminently expected to be incorporated into clinical practice to predict, diagnose, and determine the stage of AD. In this review we focus on advancements in the measurement technologies for blood biomarkers and the promising biomarkers that are approaching clinical application.We also discuss the current limitations, the needed further investigations, and the perspectives on their use.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic damage during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a critical complication in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Apart from its role in preventing HBV reactivation, there is some evidence for the benefits of preemptive antiviral therapy in TACE. This study evaluated the effect of preemptive antiviral therapy on acute hepatic deterioration following TACE. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included a prospectively collected cohort of 108 patients with HBV-related HCC who underwent TACE between January 2007 and January 2013. Acute hepatic deterioration following TACE was evaluated. Treatment-related hepatic decompensation was defined as newly developed encephalopathy, ascites, variceal bleeding, elevation of the bilirubin level, prolongation of prothrombin time, or elevation of the Child-Pugh score by ≥2 within 2 weeks following TACE. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing treatment-related decompensation. Preemptive antiviral therapy involves directing prophylaxis only toward high-risk chronic hepatitis B patients in an attempt to prevent the progression of liver disease. We regarded at least 6 months as a significant duration of preemptive antiviral treatment before diagnosis of HCC. RESULTS: Of the 108 patients, 30 (27.8%) patients received preemptive antiviral therapy. Treatment-related decompensation was observed in 25 (23.1%) patients during the follow-up period. Treatment-related decompensation following TACE was observed more frequently in the nonpreemptive group than in the preemptive group (29.5% vs. 6.7%, P=0.008). In the multivariate analysis, higher serum total bilirubin (Hazard ratio [HR] =3.425, P=0.013), hypoalbuminemia (HR=3.990, P=0.015), and absence of antiviral therapy (HR=7.597, P=0.006) were significantly associated with treatment-related hepatic decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that preemptive antiviral therapy significantly reduces the risk of acute hepatic deterioration. Preventing hepatic deterioration during TACE by applying such a preemptive approach may facilitate the continuation of anticancer therapy and thus improve long-term outcomes.
Aged ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Bilirubin/blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/*adverse effects ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B/complications/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia/etiology ; Incidence ; Liver/physiopathology ; Liver Diseases/epidemiology/*etiology ; Liver Neoplasms/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome