Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness on comprehensive health education intervention program regarding reproductive tract infections/sexually transmitted diseases (RTIs/STDs) among reproductive age population in the rural areas of China.

METHODSData were generated from the Reproductive Health/Family Planning Project implemented by the State Family Planning Committee and the Ministry of Health from 1998 to 2002, which covered 32 counties in 22 provinces. A quasi-experimental design was used. Six counties were selected from 32 project counties as intervention group, while 6 non-project counties were taken as controls which were similar in number of population and economic level to the counties as selected. Subjects of the study were mothers with children under 3 years and men under 35 years of age. A total number of 675 mothers and men were interviewed using a structured questionnaire by strictly trained investigators. Logistic model was used to compare the difference of knowledge on RTIs/STDs between intervention group and control group. OR value was used to describe the degree of the difference.

RESULTSOver the 18 month intervention period, persons in the intervention group had more knowledge of RTIs/STDs than those in control group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that intervention was significantly associated with better knowledge on factors as transmission, risks, symptoms, management and prevention of RTIs/STDs with 95% CI of OR as 2.4 - 6.4, 2.0 - 4.8, 3.0 - 6.4, 1.9 - 5.7 and 1.8 - 6.8 respectively, after controlling the demographic factors. Level of education was an important factor influencing the subjects to receive knowledge on RTIs/STDs.

CONCLUSIONComprehensive health education intervention programs had significant impact on knowledge about RTIs/STDs among the target population, indicating that the Reproductive Health/Family Planning Project implemented in the rural areas of China had been successful.

Adult ; China ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; prevention & control ; Genital Diseases, Male ; prevention & control ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Rural Health ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; prevention & control

Objective:To study the effect of radiotherapy on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with bone metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by analyzing the Function Assessment of Cancer Treatment(FACT), and to analyze the influence of clinical factors on the improvement of the QOL after radiotherapy.Methods:The FACT bone pain scale in 43 patients with bone metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma before and after radiotherapy was retrospectively analyzed. The changes in QOL score before and after radiotherapy were analyzed by T test from five aspects: overall QOL score, general functional status, pain degree, physical function and social psychology. Further analysis was made on the scores of patients whose QOL had not been improved. Chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation between clinical factors and QOL improvement after radiotherapy. Results:After radiotherapy, the QOL of patients were improved in all aspects compared with those before radiotherapy, and there were statistical differences ( t=7.621, 5.887, 9.407, 7.785, 4.487, P<0.05). In patients whose QOL did not improve after radiotherapy, the scores of overall QOL and psychosocial assessment decreased significantly, and there were significant differences ( t=3.381, 4.982, P<0.05). Among the clinical factors, soft tissue mass at bone metastasis site and radiotherapy prescription dose had significant effects on the improvement of patients′ life after radiotherapy (χ 2=5.180, 7.457, P<0.05). Whether there were soft tissue masses in bone metastases before radiotherapy, the improvement rates of QOL after radiotherapy were 50.00% and 85% respectively. The improvement rates of QOL after radiotherapy were 44.44% and 84% in patients with prescription dose of <40 Gy and≥40 Gy respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that soft tissue mass at bone metastasis site, the dose of radiotherapy prescription and numeric rating scale (NRS) of pain had more significant effects on QOL ( OR=0.296, 0.020, 1.592, P<0.05). Conclusions:Radiotherapy at bone metastasis sites can significantly improve the QOL of liver cancer patients with bone metastasis. Psychosocial status can affect the QOL of patients. In the case of soft tissue mass in bone metastasis site, the prescription dose of radiotherapy (≥40 Gy) can better improve the QOL.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of monkshood cake-separated mild-warm moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Xiyan (EX-LE 5) on knee osteoarthritis.

METHODSThe patients of monkshood cake-separated mild-warm moxibustion group were treated with monkshood cake-separated mild-warm moxibustion at Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36) and Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) on the affected side, and the medication group with oral administration of Xianling Gubao Capsules. After treatment for 4 weeks, VAS and index of severity of osteoarthritis (ISOA scale) were used for assessment of clinical therapeutic effect.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the arthralgia and the index of severity significantly improved in the two groups (P < 0.01), and the analgesic effect and improvement of ISOA in the monkshood cake-separated mild-warm moxibustion group were better than those in the medication group (P < 0.05). The basic clinical cured rate was 80.0% and the effect-producing time was (10.91 +/- 4.17) days in the monkshood cake-separated mild-warm moxibustion group, and 53.3% and (12.28 +/- 4.60) days in the medication group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTherapeutic effect of monkshood cake-separated mild-warm moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis is better than that of oral administration of Xianling Gubao Capsules.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy

This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficiency and complications after allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with reduced-intensity conditioning regimens in hematologic malignancies. 10 patients (6 CML patients, 2 AML patients, 1 ALL patient and 1 NHL patient) underwent related allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning regimens. The conditioning regimens consisted of "FLU + CY + TBI" basically and was appropriately improved in accordance with status of patients. Cyclosporin A (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were used to prevent the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Detection of bone marrow cells, chromosomes, fused gene, ABO blood group and STR-PCR were used to observe engraftment, relapse, GVHD, transplantation- related complications (TRC) after transplantation and to evaluate patients quality of life. The results showed that the 10 patients successfully accepted the transplantation and their primary diseases were cured. In one patient, severe pulmonary infection happened, and in another one CMV infection occurred. Grade IV of acute GVHD occurred in one case and grade I of acute GVHD in 2 cases, the no chronic GVHD appeared. 5 patients relapsed after transplantation at various time points, the donor lymphocytes infusion (DLI) or drugs rescued these 5 patients. During median follow-up of 5 - 35 months, 2 out of which died, 8 survived, the overall survival rate was 80%, and the survivors live in a high-quality life. In conclusion, the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced intensity conditioning regimens was feasible with relatively low toxicity for recipients. GVHD and TRC were low, and life quality of patients after transplantation was high. DLI could cure the primary diseases even relapsed after transplantation.
Adult ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Transfusion ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycophenolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of EphA2 and EphrinA1 and its relationship with angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma and its relevance to clinicopathologic features.

METHODSThe expression of the EphA2 and EphrinA1 was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the tissues samples from 68 renal cell carcinomas and 24 normal kidneys, and quantitatively analyzed. The microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD34 immunostaining of microvascular endothelial cells. Statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS (version 13.0).

RESULTSThe expression of EphA2, EphrinA1 and MND in the cancerous tissues were significantly higher (P<0.01) than that in the normal ones. Significantly increased expression of EphA2, EphrinA1 and MVD (P<0.01) was detected in cancer tissues with higher grade differentiation, more advanced stage and more lymph node metastasis, respectively (P<0.05 for each group). Expression of the EphA2 and EphrinA1 protein was shown to be positively associated with the MVD assessed by Spearman's correlation and factor analysis (r=0.555, r=0.485, P<0.01). The MVD was also significantly correlated with the diameter of the tumor (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEphA2 and EphrinA1 are highly expressed in renal cell carcinoma, and positively correlated with histological differentiation, clinical stage and angiogenesis in the cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ephrin-A1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptor, EphA2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of selenium on rat hippocampal neurons against ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, IR group and selenium-treated group, and in the latter two groups, cerebral IR injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion; Na2SeO3 treatment was administer in selenium-treated group. At 14 days after reperfusion, the brain tissues were harvested from the rats and hippocampal neuron injuries were observed by TUNEL and Methylene Blue staining. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampal tissues were measured by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with IR group, the rats in selenium-treated group showed no significant increase in the expression of m-NGF (P>0.05), but pro-NGF expression was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the hippocampal tissue. Na2SeO3 treatment significantly inhibited the expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β and decreased the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons following cerebral IR injury (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSelenium produces antiapoptotic effect to protect the hippocampal neurons following cerebral IR injury possibly not by increasing the level of m-NGF but by decreasing the expressions of the inflammatory factors.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the periodontal conditions after the wedge-shaped defect was restored by gingival retraction technique.

METHODSA total of 138 mandibular premolars with wedge-shaped defect were selected and divided into A, B groups. Group A was restored with Dyract after using retraction cord. Group B was directly restored with Dyract. Clinical parameters including plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing depth (PD), volumes of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and levels of aspartate aminotransferases (AST) of gingival crevicular fluid were measured at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation.

RESULTSThere was no difference in PLI, GI, SBI, PD between group A and B during 6 months after operation, while the difference of GCF and AST was significant between group A and B at 3 months and 6 months after operation (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGingival retraction technique applied in wedge-shaped defect restoration can reduce the damage to the periodontal tissue.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; analysis ; Dental Plaque Index ; Dental Restoration, Permanent ; methods ; Female ; Gingival Crevicular Fluid ; enzymology ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontal Index ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo analyze the high-frequency ultrasound image features of acute scrotum in children and explore the value of high-frequency ultrasonography in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease.

METHODSThis retrospective study included 256 children aged 2 days to 14 years undergoing color Doppler ultrasonography at 2 hours to 3 days after onset of acute scrotum. We analyzed the morphology, internal echo and blood supply of the testis in comparison with the clinical and pathological results.

RESULTSAmong the 256 cases, acute testicular torsion was found in 23, of which 16 were treated by complete resection the necrotic testis and the other 7 by surgical reduction of testicular torsion. Ultrasonographically, the involved testes presented different degrees of increase or decrease in volume, with uneven internal echoes, irregular hypoechoic flakes, and testicular hydrocele. Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) showed significant blood flow signals around the diseased testes but none within them. Acute testicular appendix torsion was found in 116 cases, in which ultrasonography manifested nodules with round or oval abnormal echoes between the upper pole of the testis and caput epididymidis, first hypoechoic and then gradually increased, heterogeneous internally. CDFI revealed enlarged epididymides and enriched testicular blood flow but no blood flow signals in the nodules. The 103 cases of acute epididymitis were ultrasonographically characterized by varied degrees of swelling of the involved epididymis with uneven internal echoes and rich blood flow signals on CDFI. Six of the cases were diagnosed as acute orchitis, with the ultrasonographic features of testicular swelling and low but uniform internal echoes, with rich blood flow signals on CDFI. Incarcerated inguinal hernia was confirmed in 15 cases, in which ultrasonography revealed intrusion of the hernia into the obviously enlarged scrotal sac with the mesentery and intestine in it, and blood flow visible on CDFI. Acute scrotal wall hematoma and edema was found in 8 cases, with the ultrasonographic characteristics of scrotal wall thickening, with visible blood flow signals on CDFI.

CONCLUSIONSHigh-frequency ultrasonography has a high sensitivity and specificity for acute scrotum in children, which can be applied as the first-choice clinical imaging modality and provide reliable evidence for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease.

Background: and Purpose Intravenous tenecteplase (TNK) efficacy has not been well demonstrated in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) beyond 4.5 hours after onset. This study aimed to determine the effect of intravenous TNK for AIS within 4.5 to 24 hours of onset. Methods: In this pilot trial, eligible AIS patients with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) mismatch were randomly allocated to intravenous TNK (0.25 mg/kg) or standard care within 4.5–24 hours of onset. The primary endpoint was excellent functional outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score of 0–1). The primary safety endpoint was symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Results: Of the randomly assigned 80 patients, the primary endpoint occurred in 52.5% (21/40) of TNK group and 50.0% (20/40) of control group, with no significant difference (unadjusted odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval 0.46–2.66; P=0.82). More early neurological improvement occurred in TNK group than in control group (11 vs. 3, P=0.03), but no significant differences were found in other secondary endpoints, such as mRS 0–2 at 90 days, shift analysis of mRS at 90 days, and change in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at 24 hours and 7 days. There were no cases of sICH in this trial; however, asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 3 of the 40 patients (7.5%) in the TNK group. Conclusion This phase 2, randomized, multicenter study suggests that intravenous TNK within 4.5–24 hours of onset may be safe and feasible in AIS patients with a DWI-FLAIR mismatch.