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).

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.

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.

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

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation on perineal wound healing following abdominoperineal resection(APR) for lower rectal cancer.

METHODSData of 93 patients who underwent APR for low rectal cancer between January 2005 and January 2009 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were reviewed, including patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation (n=29) and those undergoing surgery alone(n=64). Perineal wound healing was the primary outcome measurement. Condition of wound healing was classified as good, moderate, and poor and was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSTwenty nine patients in the neoadjuvant group received preoperative regional radiation(50 Gy, 25 fractions/5 weeks) with synchronous FOLFOX4 chemotherapy(fluorouracil and oxaliplatin). In the neoadjuvant group, wound healing after APR was good in 18 patients(62.1%), moderate in 6(20.7%), and poor in 5(17.2%). In patients who had surgery alone, wound healing after APR was good in 41 patients(64.1%), moderate in 15(23.4%), and poor in 8(12.5%). There was no significant difference in the incidence of wound infection(poor wound healing)between the two groups(P=0.773).

CONCLUSIONNeoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy is not associated with increased perineal wound infection following abdominoperineal resection for low rectal cancer.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Perineum ; surgery ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Rectum ; surgery ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) on intercellular cell adhesion molecule type 1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in THP-1 macrophages stimulated with 8-Br-cAMP to identify a possible new mechanism that ABCA1 contributes to atherosclerogenesis (AS).

METHODSMonocytic THP-1 cells were cultured in the presence of 100 nmol/L phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 72 h to transform the cells into THP-1 macrophages. After the macrophages were stimulated with 8-Br-cAMP (final concentration 0.5 mmol/L) for 3, 6, 12 and 24 h respectively, the amounts of ABCA1, ICAM-1 and MCP-1 mRNA were examined by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR, and the protein amounts of ABCA1, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and IL-1beta were determined by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides of ABCA1 were add into the culture media at a final concentration of 100 nmol/L and the experiments were repeated.

RESULTSABCA1, ICAM-1 and MCP-1 mRNA and protein and IL-1beta protein were increased in the macrophages after stimulation with 8-Br-cAMP for 6 and 12 h. The mRNA expressions of ABCA1, ICAM-1 and MCP-1 were decreased significantly at 3 and 6 h (P<0.01), and the protein expressions of ABCA1, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and IL-1beta declined significantly at 12 and 24 h (P<0.01) after transfection of the macrophages with antisense oligonucleotides of ABCA1.

CONCLUSIONABCA1 can increase the expressions of the inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 macrophages stimulated by 8-Br-cAMP and plays a role in the pathogenesis of AS.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate ; pharmacology ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology