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.

Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Neoplasms ; Phosphorylation

Child ; Erdheim-Chester Disease ; Female ; Humans

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Neurilemmoma

Objective To analyze the expression level of HSP72 and HSP73,the subtypes of HSP70, in peripheral blood lymphocytes from lung carcinoma patients on both basic and heat injury conditions,and to explore the significance of HSP70 in the development of lung cancer.Methods Lung cancer patients were selected'as experimental group,and the health people with similar age,gender,vocational history and inhabi- tation to the experimental group were chosen as control group.The blood lymphocytes from both groups were isolated,cultured and treated with heat injury at either 37℃or 42℃.The expressions of HSP72 and HSP73 in the isolated lymphocytes were determined by Flow Cytometry.Results There were much higher expressions of HSP72 and HSP73 in control group(21.97?2.40 vs 12.77?0.66)than which in experimental group(HSP72 19.0?2.12 vs HSP73 11.74?0.68,P

Objective To investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of gene A20 in treatment of trau-matic brain injury (TBI). Methods Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were made severe TBI models and assigned randomly to experimental group and control group (35 rats in each group). After severe TBI, the rats in experimental group were injected with liposome-pcDNA3.1-A20 and those in control group injected with liposome pcDNA3.1-A20 at 30 minutes after severe TBI. The animals in both groups were sacrificed to remove the brain of five rats from each group at 12, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours for sec-tioning. The expression of A20 and neurocyte apoptosis were defined by immunohistological method and TUNEL accordingly. The other ten rats were testified for neurological function at 1,2, 3 and 4 weeks af-ter TBI. Results The expression of A20 in experimental group was higher than that in control group, with statistical differences (P < 0. 01). The peak neurocyte apoptosis was found at 72 hours after TBI. The number of apoptosis cells in experimental group was lower than that in control group at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours afte TBI (P < 0.01 or 0.05). At the 4th week after TBI, the neurological function in exper-imental group was better than that in control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Gene therapy with A20 may have anti-apoptosis effect and exert neuroprotective effect on severe TBI.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Culture Media ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Respiratory System ; cytology ; Swine

Objective To evaluate the quality coherence of commercial Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi) decoction pieces. Methods The samples of 12 batches of commercial decoction pieces, 1 batch of sulphur fumigated Baizhi, and 1 batch of naturally dried Baizhi were collected. HPLC method was used to determine the fingerprints and the contents of imperatorin and isoimperatorin by C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) with a gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile-water solution system at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The column temperature was set at 35 ℃, and the max plot of detection wavelength was in 210-800 nm. Similarity calculation was used to analyze the data. Results The HPLC fingerprint analysis method was established with 12 common peaks. The similarities of 12 batches of commercial decoction pieces of Baizhi were 0.840-0.973. Their similarities compared with the sulphur fumigated Baizhi were 0.672-0.908. Compared with naturally dried Baizhi, the similarities of fingerprint were 0.536-0.684. The contents of imperatorin and isoimperatorin in 12 batches of commercial decoction pieces were 0.035%-0.140% and 0.028%-0.069%, respectively. Conclusion The quality of Baizhi decoction pieces was consistent. It can be speculated that Baizhi decoction pieces were processed with sulphur fumigation.

Exhaled breath condensate(EBC) is a new method for diagnosis and evaluation of lung disease,EBC compositions form to the fluid lining airway surfaces.EBC examination is a safe,non-invasive,easy and simple diagnostic method that is suitable for applicable in infants and childhood.Changes of EBC composition occurs in the airway inflammation or injury.There are changes in the pH value,inflammatory mediators,cytokines and other composition in EBC of childhood asthma.Analysis of EBC composition can contribute to diagnosis and severity assessment of childhood asthma.

Objective To evaluate the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and delayed surgery for infant hepatoblastoma.Methods TACE was performed with the initial digital subtractive angiography (DSA) under general anesthesia 1-3 times in 8 infants with huge hepatoblastoma, whose age was 2 to 12 months. DSA was done via arterials in hepatoblastoma each time before chemoembolization. The arterials were perfused with chemodrugs and suspensions in ultrasome iodized oil , and were blocked with spring rings. DSA findings indicated that the tumor shrank without new tumorous arterials after 1 month in 6 cases, and 4 of them showed no tumorous staining, and the delayed surgery was performed successfully 1 week later in 6 infants. One boy underwent systemic chemotherapy alone during 6 months after 3 times of TACE. Results TACE therapy did not encounter any major technical problem or toxic reaction caused by chemotherapy. The following DSA test 4 weeks later did not detect any new tumorous vessels in 6 cases. Six children received TACE and surgery had been followed-up with no tumor recurrence for months averagely. The boy underwent TACE and venous chemotherapy for 6 months , without surgery , had been followed-up for 48 months until the present report. CT, AFP and DSA did not show any hints of tumor recurrence. Six cases receiving 3 times TACE combined with surgery survived without tumor recurrence. Conclusions TACE is a very effective, safe and helpful therapy for hepatoblastoma, which stressed the repeated use of spring ring to block tumor vessels lastingly if necessary. If surgery is required, DSA test is needed beforehand to detect new tumorous vessels or neoplasm. If there is any , TACE is repeated. TACE combined with surgery may provide an additional promising choice in the treatment of hepatoblastoma, and repeated TACE alone may cure hepatoblastoma in infants.