Objective To test the reliability and validity of the brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core sets for Chinese stroke patients using Rasch model analysis. Methods The body functions of 38 Chinese stroke patients were measured using the brief ICF core sets. The qualifiers of the 20items were measured by two raters and analyzed using FACETS statistical software. The intra-rater reliability and validity were tested by using the separation index and separation reliability and fit analysis. Results The brief ICF core sets had good internal consistency and reliability (person separation index = 6.02, person separation reliability = 0.94 ) with these Chinese patients. The raters showed significantly different strictness in rating, but their ratings had good internal self-consistency. The construct validity was good for the body functions of the ICF component ( separation index = 10.50, separation reliability = 0.80) , but misfitting and overfitting were found in items b117, b152and b755. Conclusion The body function of the brief ICF core sets has good reliability and validity for Chinese stroke patients. A many-facet Rasch measurement model can provide comprehensive information and has good application prospects for testing the reliability and validity of ICF core sets.

Objective To explore main risk factors of post-operative severe complications in elderly patients with gastric cancer.Methods From January 2006 to June 2011,a total of 236 elderly patients to receive gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed in this casecontrol study.The factors affecting post-operative severe complications were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results Age was younger in patients without than those with postoperative complications [(72.9±5.8) years vs.(80.6±6.7) years,t=-9.194,P=0.000].Serum levels of hemoglobin and albumin were higher in patients without than with post-operative complications [(109.94±18.72) g/L vs.(98.75±18.82) g/L,(38.37±5.52) g/L vs.(33.69± 3.35) g/L,t=4.391,7.080,both P=0.000].Operation time was shorter in patients without than with post-operative complications [(3.1 ± 1.0) hours vs.(3.6 ± 1.1) hours,t =-3.507,P =0.001)].Intraoperative blood transfusion volume was less in patients without than with post-operative complications [(2.5±4.4) L vs.(2.8±5.5) L,t=-4.901,P=0.000)].The long diameter of tumor was shorter in patients without than with post-operative complications [(4.5 ± 2.8) cm vs.(5.3± 2.7) cm,t =-2.111,P =0.036)].Logistic regression analysis revealed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),serum albumin level,age,operation time and blood transfusion volume were associated with postoperative severe complications.Logistic regression equation was as follow:P=1/[1+e(16.22-033X1+0.99X3-390X4-192X5-493X9)].Conclusions COPD,operation time,blood transfusion volume,serum albumin level and age are the main independent risk factors for post-operative severe complications in elderly patients with gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects of Modified Siwutang aqueous extract (mSWT) on bone marrow cell mobilization and plantation in mice after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods The AMI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending artery in Kunming mice.Bone marrow cells were marked by injection of DAPI into the cavitas medullaris of shin bones.Mice were administered with mSWT 60 mg/kg by intragastric administration once a day after surgery.After haematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescent staining,the plantation of bone marrow cells in AMI area and microvessel density were detected by histopathological assay.The EPCs proportion of peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry.Results Compared with model mice,infarct size obviously was decreased after mSWT 60 mg/kg treatment,with EPCs ratio increased significantly.Inflammatory cell infiltration of myocardium was much less.Myocardium cellular degeneration and necrosis,fibrosis were reduced,which survival cardiac muscle tissue was increased.DAPI positive cells of plantation and survive were found in AMI region of mSWT group.The number of positive cells were increased in mSWT group than that of model group.There were lot of microvessels of vWF positive expresseion in mSWT than model group.Conclusion:mSWT significantly improved histopathology of AMI mice.The mechanism may be involved in moved bone marrow cells,homed to AMI area and promote angiogenesis.

Objective: To investigate the expression of chemokine like factor 2 (CKLF2) mRNA in the rat myocardium after myocardial infarction(MI).Methods: In a rat model of MI, the myocardium surrounding the infarcted area was used for RNA preparation at different time points. After RT, competitive polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed to assess the expression of rCKLF2 mRNA. SAS Kruskal Wallis test was used for statistical comparisons. Results: The gene expression of rCKLF2 at mRNA level was significantly increased in the myocardium surrounding the infarcted area 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks after infarction.Conclusion: It is possible that CKLF2 contributes to the pathophysiological process and needs to be further investigated.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to evaluate the mechanical properties (MP) and degree of the phase transformation (PT) of martensitic (M-NiTi), austenitic (A-NiTi) and thermodynamic nickel-titanium wire (T-NiTi). METHODS: The samples consisted of 0.016 x 0.022 inch M-NiTi (Nitinol Classic, NC), A-NiTi (Optimalloy, OPTI) and T-NiTi (Neo-Sentalloy, NEO). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), three-point bending test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and microstructure examination were used. Statistical evaluation was undertaken using ANOVA test. RESULTS: In DSC analysis, OPTI and NEO showed two peaks in the heating curves and one peak in the cooling curves. However, NC revealed one single broad and weak peak in the heating and cooling curves. Austenite finishing (Af) temperatures were 19.7degrees C for OPTI, 24.6degrees C for NEO and 52.4degrees C for NC. In the three-point bending test, residual deflection was observed for NC, OPTI and NEO. The load ranges of NC and OPTI were broader and higher than NEO. XRD and microstructure analyses showed that OPTI and NEO had a mixture of martensite and austenite at temperatures below Martensite finishing (Mf). NEO and OPTI showed improved MP and PT behavior than NC. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical and thermal behaviors of NiTi wire cannot be completely explained by the expected degree of PT because of complicated martensite variants and independent PT induced by heat and stress.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Dental Alloys ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Thermodynamics ; Transition Temperature ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between M235T variant of angiotensinogen (AGT) gene and the blood pressure response to benazepril in a hypertensive cohort.

METHODSBenazepril (10-20 mg/day) was administered for 6 weeks to 251 essential hypertensives. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with restriction enzyme digestion was used to detect the polymorphism and the patients were classified as MM, MT or TT genotype. The changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were analyzed for association with genotypes at the AGT gene locus.

RESULTSThe MM genotype was observed in 23 patients (9.2%), the MT genotype in 104 patients (41.4%) and the TT genotype in 124 patients (49.4%). There was no association between these polymorphisms and the blood pressure responses in the total 251 patients. But based on the analysis stratified by age, the association between these polymorphism and the DBP responses was found in the old patients (> or = 60 years old) subgroup, the reduction in DBP was significantly greater in patients carrying the MM compared to MT or TT genotypes (14.8 +/- 4.8 mm Hg vs. 7.9 +/- 7.7 mm Hg or 9.8 +/- 6.4 mm Hg respectively; ANOVA, P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONThe M235T polymorphism of the AGT gene was shown to influence the responses to benazepril in old hypertensive patients (> or = 60 years old). Thus, specific genotypes might predict the response to specific antihypertensive treatment.

Aged ; Angiotensinogen ; genetics ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Benzazepines ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Yimucao (Herba leonuri) injection against experimental cerebral ischemia.

METHODSMouse models of cerebral ischemia induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion or potassium cyanide and rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were established to evaluate the protective effect of Yimucao injection by measuring the changes in cerebral malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) after the injections.

RESULTSYimucao injection significantly lowered the cerebral index of mice with cerebral ischemia, prolonged the survival time of mice poisoned with potassium cyanide, resulting also in significantly decreased MDA content and increased activities of SOD and LDH in the brain tissue of rats after a 10-min cerebral ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONYimucao injection provides protective effect against experimental cerebral ischemia.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical therapeutic effect of Guan-moxibustion on herpes simplex virus facial neuritis.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty cases were enrolled in 3 centers and 157 cases were completed the study. All he patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, a Guan-moxibustion group and a suspended moxibustion plus acupuncture group. All of them were treated with basic acupuncture, and the Guan-moxibustion group were added with Guan-moxibustion and the suspended moxibustion group with suspended moxibustion. They were treated for 8 weeks, and facial disability index (FDI) and House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system were used to assess therapeutic effects.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 91.0% in the Guan-moxibustion group and 72.2% in the suspended moxibustion group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), the Guan-moxibustion being better than the suspended moxibustion group.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of Guan-moxibustion plus acupuncture on herpes simplex virus facial neuritis is better than that of suspended moxibustion plus acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Simplexvirus

Organ transplantation has become a' widely accepted treatment modality for end-stage organ disease. The shortage of allogenic donors for organ transplantation has brought about the necessity of xenotransplantation as an unlimited source of organ donation. However, organ transplantation between different species have never been successful because of hyperacute rejection. Although the mechanism of this phenomenon is not fully understood, many researchers believe that the natural antibodies present in the recipient's serum may bind to the graft and induce the activation of complement cascade triggering the process of hyperacute rejection. ...continue...
Antibodies ; Complement System Proteins ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Organ Transplantation ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplants

BACKGROUNDThere is a significant association between obesity and breast cancer, which is possibly due to the expression of leptin. Therefore, it is important to clarify the role of leptin/ObR (leptin receptor) signaling during the progression of human breast cancer.

METHODSNude mice with xenografts of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were administered recombinant human leptin subcutaneous via injection around the tumor site. Mice in the experimental group were intratumorally injected with ObR-RNAi-lentivirus, while negative control group mice were injected with the same dose of negative-lentivirus. Tumor size was blindly measured every other day, and mRNA and protein expression levels of ObR, estrogen receptor a (ERa), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for each group were determined.

RESULTSKnockdown of ObR-treated xenografted nude mice with a high leptin microenvironment was successfully established. Local injection of ObR-RNAi-lentivirus significantly suppressed the established tumor growth in nude mice. ObR level was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the negative control group, while the amounts of ERa and VEGF expression were significantly lower in the leptin group than in the control group (P < 0.01 for all).

CONCLUSIONSInhibition of leptin/ObR signaling is essential to breast cancer proliferation and possible crosstalk between ObR and ERa, and VEGF, and may lead to novel therapeutic treatments aiming at targeting ObR in breast cancers.

Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; MCF-7 Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; RNA Interference ; physiology ; Receptors, Leptin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays