Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; genetics ; immunology ; Sclerosis ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of stent placement in the superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Methods Twelve patients with stenosis of the superior vena cava and/or its main tributaries underwent placement of a self-expanding endovascular Wallstents (11 men,1 woman,mean age 51 years). Results Until death or completion of the study,the SVC syndrome was successfully controlled in 92% of the cases (11/12). There were no early procedure-related complications such as early occlusion,or migration of the stent. The recurrence rate was 16.7%. Conclusion Percutaneous venous stent placement in the superior vena cava is a relatively safe and simple procedure. In majority of cases,the symptoms of the SVC syndrome are relieved immediately and completely. Complications are rare.

Objective To elucidate the regulate role of the guava leaf on the levels of IFN-? and IL-2 in the salivary juice on children patients with noroviruses diarrhea. Method 50 patients with noroviruses diarrhea was grouped randomly to group A (30 patients), which was treated with guava leaf and group B (20 patients), which was treated with Smecta, and 20 health children was randomly choiced as normal control group. The levels of IFN-? and IL-2 in the salivary juice of the three groups were determined and compared before and after the treatments. Results The levels of IFN-? and IL-2 in the group A and B before the treatments were higher than the normal control group (P

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for content determination of bavachin and bakuchiol in Psoralea corylifolia.METHODS:HPLC method was adopted.The determination was performed on Shim-Pack VP-ODS column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water (gradient elution) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.The detection wavelength was set at 246 nm,the column temperature was 30 ℃,and the sample size was 10 μL.RESULTS:The linear ranges of bavachin and bakuchiol were 48.9-489 ng(r=0.999 8),784-7 840 ng(r=0.999 9).RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were all lower than 2.0％.Average recoveries ranged 95.30％-99.63％ (RSD=1.45％,n=9),96.89％-100.82％ (RSD=1.36％,n=9).CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,accurate,stable and reproducible,and can be used for the simultaneous determination of bavachin and bakuchiol in P corylifolia.

Background: Hypoalbuminemia adversely affects the clinical outcomes of various cancers. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prognostic value of hypoalbuminemia 3–5 weeks after treatment in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who received sorafenib or sunitinib as first-line treatment. Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study, we assessed the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall sur-vival (OS) of 184 mRCC patients who received first-line sorafenib or sunitinib treatment. PFS and OS were compared between patients with post-treatment hypoalbuminemia (post-treatment albumin level <36.4 g/L) and those with normal post-treatment albumin level (albumin level ≥36.4 g/L). The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)risk model stratified mRCC patients into three risk categories. Prognostic values of all patient characteristics including MSKCC risk category were determined by using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. Prognostic value was further determined using the Harrell concordance index and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: The median PFS and OS of the 184 patients were 11 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 9–12 months) and 23 months (95% CI 19–33 months), respectively. Patients with post-treatment hypoalbuminemia had significantly shorter median PFS (6 months [95% CI 5–7 months]) and OS (11 months [95% CI 9–15 months]) than patients who had normal post-treatment albumin levels (PFS: 12 months [95% CI 11–16 months], P < 0.001; OS: 31 months [95% CI 24–42 months], P < 0.001), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that post-treatment hypoalbuminemia was an independent predictor of PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.113; 95% CI 1.390–3.212; P < 0.001) and OS (HR, 2.388; 95% CI 1.591–3.585; P < 0.001). Post-treatment hypoalbuminemia could also be combined with the MSKCC risk category for better prediction about OS. The model that included post-treatment hypoalbuminemia and MSKCC risk category improved the predictive accuracy for PFS and OS (c-index: 0.68 and 0.73, respectively) compared with the basic MSKCC risk model (c-index: 0.67 and 0.70, respectively). The prognostic values for PFS and OS of the integrated MSKCC risk model involving post-treatment hypoalbuminemia were significantly more accurate than the basic MSKCC risk model using likelihood ratio analysis (both P < 0.001). Conclusions: Post-treatment hypoalbuminemia can be considered an independent prognostic factor for patients with mRCC who undergo first-line treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Additionally, integrating post-treatment serum albumin level into the basic MSKCC risk model can improve the accuracy of this model in predicting patient overall survival and progression-free survival.

Objective To make the scale for the compliance of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during home oxygen therapy.Methods By literature searching,semi-structured interview,expert consultation,as well as pre test,the tentative scale was formed at first.Then the investigation was conducted among 324 patients with COPD selected.Finally the scale was formed by testing the reliability and validity.Results The scale was made up of two dimensions with 16 items in total.It showed that Cronbach α coefficient was 0.984,split-half reliability was 0.976,and content validity index was 0.98.The exploratory factor analysis combined with AMOS 7.0 confirmatory factor analysis was used for construct validity of the home oxygen therapy compliance scale.Conclusions The self-management behavior scale for patients with COPD shows good reliability and validity,which can be used to evaluate the compliance during home oxygen therapy and provide reference tool for COPD patients' family intervention.

Chills ; prevention & control ; Cold Temperature ; Female ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health Services ; Water

Disease Progression ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; physiopathology ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; physiopathology ; Humans

BACKGROUND:The two main cages used in anterior cervical surgery are titanium cages and poly(ether-ether-ketone) cages, but it is stil controversial in imaging performances and clinical outcomes.
OBJECTIVE:To systematical y evaluate imaging performances and clinical outcomes between titanium cages and poly(ether-ether-ketone) cages in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery.
METHODS:The Cochrane library (issue 5, 2013), Medline database, EMBASE, CNKI and Wanfang database were retrieved by computer. The deadline of al the retrieves concerning control study of uses of titanium cages and poly(ether-ether-ketone) cages was June 1st, 2013. Two reviewers assessed literatures independently, and the meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.2 software.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of four literatures including 235 patients, 128 of titanium cages and 107 of poly(ether-ether-ketone) cages, were included. Meta-analysis results showed that there was no statistical y significant difference between the groups in fusion rates, subsidence and dislocation rates of short-term fol ow-up and clinical outcomes (al P>0.05). There were statistical y significant differences between the groups in subsidence and dislocation rates of long-term fol ow-up (P<0.05). Poly(ether-ether-ketone) cage group was superior to titanium cages group in maintenance of cervical curvature and intervertebral height. This meta-analysis showed that poly(ether-ether-ketone) cages had good fusion rates and clinical outcomes, less subsidence and dislocation rates, and can better maintain cervical curvature and intervertebral height compared with titanium cages.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of a nature product derivate oridonin on in?vasion of human lung cancer. Methods Human lung cancer A549 and PC-9 cell lines were treated with oridonin. MTS as?say was used to determine cell proliferation. Transwell assay was used to determine the cell invasion, and adhesion assay to determine the cell adhesion. Flow cytometry was used to determine cell cycle. Western blotting and realtime-PCR were used to detect expression levels of CDK1, mTOR, p53, p21, E-cadherin, CD44,β-catenin, uPA, MMP-2/9, p-AKT and p-Src. The luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the NF-κB promoter activity. Results In vitro proliferation, invasion and adhesion of A549 and PC-9 cells were significantly inhibited by oridonin. The cell cycle was halted by G2/M phase, and ex?pressions of E-cadherin, p53 and p21 were promoted, while expressions of CDK1, mTOR, CD44,β-catenin, uPA, MMP-2/9, p-AKT and p-Src and promoter activity of NF-κB were down-regulated. Conclusion Oridonin is able to inhibit the in vitro invasion of human lung cancer A549 and PC-9 cell lines, which might be correlated with its abilities to regulate the ty?rosine kinase activity.