OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability and validity of Health Scale of Traditional Chinese Medicine (HSTCM) by means of questionnaires. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Liwan Community of Guangzhou, Old People's Home in Guangzhou and Outpatient Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 652 Chinese individuals (over 18 years old) were assessed with the 88-item version of HSTCM and World Health Organization Quality of Life Measure-Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF), which were randomly delivered to them. Some socioeconomic characteristics were registered. RESULTS: A test-retest reliability (15-day interval) was found among the 76 persons who completed the questionnaires by themselves. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.93. Associated 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.89-0.96. Split-half reliability was 0.79. Inter-investigator reliability (0.93) was also good, and the ICC of HSTCM was 0.90 (95%CI 0.67-0.97). The correlation between HSTCM and WHOQOL-BREF was -0.66. The correlations of HSTCM and questionnaire deliver order, investigator, interview date and interview time were 0.06, -0.12, -0.17 and 0.20 respectively. The correlation between HSTCM and self-rated health (0.46) was greater than that between HSTCM and chronic illness (0.28). Divided by individuals with or without chronic illness, area under the ROC (receiver operator characteristic) curve for HSTCM was 0.67 (95%CI 0.63-0.71). CONCLUSION: It indicates that the HSTCM is conceptually valid with satisfactory psychometric properties and forms a basis for further applications in clinical research of traditional or integrative medicine.

Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Publishing ; standards ; Quality Control ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; standards

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanoparticles (N-CNPs) with a fluorescence quantum yield of 15.1％ were prepared from sucrose and urea in oleic acid medium by a one-pot solvothermal method.A new approach for quick,sensitive,and selective determination of free chlorine in water was developed based on fluorescence quenching of N-CNPs.There existed a good linear correlation between the fluorescence quenching and the concentration of ClO-in the range of 0.05-25.00 μmol/L.The limit of detection (LOD,S/N =3) was estimated to be 23 nmol/L.This method can be applied to the determination of free chlorine in real water samples.

To select appropriate descriptors for responses of the Health Scale of Traditional Chinese Medicine (HSTCM).

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of successive trigger needling plus motorial needling in treating external humeral epicondylitis.Method Sixty-two eligible subjects with external humeral epicondylitis were randomized into a treatment group and a control group,31 cases each.The treatment group was intervened by successive trigger needling plus motorial needling,and the control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture.The two groups were both treated once a day.After 10 sessions of treatment,the changes of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores were observed,and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The VAS and ADL scores were changed significantly respectively after 1-week and 2-week treatment in both groups (P＜0.05).After the treatment,the changes of VAS and ADL scores in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group (P＜0.05).The total effective rate was 96.8％ in the treatment group versus 93.5％ in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Successive trigger needling plus motorial needling is an effective approach in treating external humeral epicondylitis,and it can improve the ADL.

Objective To compare the difference of the protein about the patient of hepatitis B who received adefovir dipivoxil(ADV)therapy,and seek the useful biomarker of effective therapy.Methods We used the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis technology to examine HBV infected serum samples aiming at searching protein's alteration after ADV therapy.Results After 1 year's treatment,haptoglobin, haptoglobin 2-alpha raised and alpha-l-antitrypsin precursor,Factor B,Chain B,transthyretin,glutathione peroxidase,alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein,retina]binding protein,retinol-binding protein precursor, apolipoprotein,apolipoprotein A-I precursor fell in viral response patients.Transthyretin raised and leucine- rich alpha-2-glyeoprotein,haptoglobin,alpha-2-actin,apolipoprotein A-I precursor fell in none viral response patients.To compare two groups:apolipoprotein A-I have the same change and haptoglobin, transthyretin have the opposite change.Conclusion Proteomics study can find the alteration of protein during the ADV treatment,and is helpful to searching the predictable biomarker to ADV.

To develop a reverse dot blot assay for rapid detection of HBV genotypes.Specific oligonucleotides probes were desighed and immobilized on nylon membranes.The DNA sample to be tested was PCR-amplified with DIG labeling primers and then hybridized with the immobilized probes.This procedure for detecting HBV genotypes was simple,rapid and specificity.30 specimens in Chongqing area were collected and detected by this method,and results were evaluated using direct sequencing.Results showed that: This new method was applicable to precise detection HBV genotypes for specimen with copies up to 103,and the HBV genotyping results showed that genotype B was the predominant genotype in Chongqing area.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the progression in morphologic changes of lungs in SARS patients.

METHODSFour cases of SARS with lung tissue samples available (including one for ultrastructural examination) were enrolled into the study. Histochemical study for VG, Masson, reticulin, orcein, PAS, sirius red stains and immunohistochemical study for vimentin, desmin, smooth muscle actin, HHF-35, CD34, F8, collagen types I and III were also performed.

RESULTSAccording to the morphologic changes, lung lesions in SARS were subcategorized into 3 phases: acute exudative inflammation, fibrous proliferation and the final fibrotic stage. Two cases belonged to the acute exudative phase, in which the course was less than 20 days. The principal lesions consisted of acute alveolar exudative inflammation, hyperplasia of alveolar epithelium, necrosis, alveolar hyaline membrane formation, alveolar desquamation and focal fibroplasia. The acute exudative protein was PAS-positive. There was an increase in reticulin fiber formation. The reactive fibroblasts were highlighted by desmin and vimentin. One case belonged to the fibroproliferative stage, in which the course was around 25 days. Major lesions included proliferative interstitial pneumonia with early pulmonary fibrosis. There was also evidence of organizing pneumonia, with an increase in reticulin fiber formation, which had a glomeruloid appearance on special stain. The mesenchymal cells showed either myofibroblastic (which expressed desmin, HHF-35, smooth muscle actin and vimentin) or fibroblastic (which expressed vimentin only) differentiation. Fibroelastosis and fibroplasia was also noted. The remaining case belonged to the fibrotic stage, in which the course was around 75 days. The main features included diffuse fibrosis and honeycomb change, which were highlighted by sirius red stain. Immunohistochemistry showed mainly types I and IV collagen fibers. In all lesions, there was also an increase of number of CD68-positive macrophages.

CONCLUSIONSThe morphologic progression in lungs of SARS patients is characterized by the development of increased fibrosis. The primitive mesenchymal cells, hyperplastic alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Design space approach is applied in this study to enhance the robustness of first ethanol precipitation process of Codonopsis Radix (Dangshen) by optimizing parameters. Total flavonoid recovery, dry matter removal, and pigment removal were defined as the process critical quality attributes (CQAs). Plackett-Burman designed experiments were carried out to find the critical process parameters (CPPs). Dry matter content of concentrated extract (DMCE), mass ratio of ethanol to concentrated extract (E/C ratio) and concentration of ethanol (CEA) were identified as the CPPs. Box-Behnken designed experiments were performed to establish the quantitative models between CPPs and CQAs. Probability based design space was obtained and verified using Monte-Carlo simulation method. According to the verification results, the robustness of first ethanol precipitation process of Dangshen can be guaranteed by operating within the design space parameters. Recommended normal operation space are as follows: dry matter content of concentrated extract of 45.0% - 48.0%, E/C ratio of 2.48-2.80 g x g(-1), and the concentration of ethanol of 92.0% - 92.7%.
Chemical Precipitation ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo compare efficacy and side effects of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with levobupivacaine, ropivacaine and racemic bupivacaine after cesarean section.

METHODSIn this prospective, randomized double-blind study, 90 ASA I-II full-term nulliparous women (aged 25-38 years with body weight of 59-87 kg) undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal-epidural anesthesia equally allocated into 3 groups. PCEA was administered with 0.125% levobupivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group L, n=30), 0.125% ropivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group R, n=30), and 0.125% bupivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group B, n=30), respectively. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, satisfaction rate, patients' overall impression of treatment, modified Bromage motor score, and incidence of side effects were recorded at regular intervals after operation.

RESULTSThe three groups were comparable with respect to the efficacy of analgesia, patients' overall impression of treatment, motor blockade and side effects. There was significant difference in patients' satisfaction rate between group R (70%) and the other two groups (93.3% in group L and 96.6% in group B, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPCEA with 0.125% levobupivacaine and morphine 20 microg/ml produces better analgesic effect with little side effects after cesarean section.

Adult ; Amides ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Analgesia, Obstetrical ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Bupivacaine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Cesarean Section ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Morphine ; administration & dosage ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Pruritus ; chemically induced ; Treatment Outcome ; Vomiting ; chemically induced