BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a kind of autoantibody which is routinely used as a factor in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to evaluate disease activity and severity.But in clinical practice, it occurs frequently that RF values do not decrease according to clinical improvement in RA patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between rheumatoid factor (RF) and activity or disease severity of RA.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized cross-sectional study was performed in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University during September 2006 and September 2007.PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-six patients,65 females and 11 males,mean age of (44±13) years,with RA diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for RA were included in this study. METHODS: Seventy-six patients with active RA were randomly recruited and assessed for functional status,radiographic change,joint pain,morning stiffness, tender joint count (TJC), tender joint score (TJS), swollen joint count (SJC), swollen joint score (SJS), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP),RF,and hemoglobin. The method of Pearson correlation or Spearman rank correlation was performed for assessing the association between RF and these indices separately, normally distributed data for Pearson correlation, nonnormally distributed data for Spearman rank correlation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation of RF with above mentioned factors. RESULTS: None of the correlation coefficients between RF and indices including age,disease duration, functional status,radiographic change,joint pain, morning stiffness, TJC,TJS,SJC,SJS,HAQ,ESR,CRP,hemoglobin were significant (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION: No associations between RF and activity or severity of RA are studied.

Objective To elucidate the effects of SP600125 at different concentrations on the proliferation and osteo-differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs).Methods The hASCs harvested were cocuhured with SP600125 at concentrations of 0 μmol/L,1 μmol/L,5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L in growth medium (OM group) and in osteogenesis medium (OM group),respectively.The DNA quantitative assay was carried out to evaluate proliferation of the hASCs;flow cytometry was used to determine the effect of SP600125 on the cell cycles of hASCs;Alkaline phosphatase level (ALP) and calcium deposition tests were conducted to observe the effects of SP600125 at different concentrations on osteogenic differentiation of the hASCs.Results The proliferation of hASCs was inhibited by 42.1％ when the cells were cocultured with SP600125 at the concentration of 10 μmol/L;the suppression decreased with decreased concentration of SP600125.The hASCs of phase G0/G1 in GM cocultured with SP600125 at the concentration of 10 μmol/L were more than those in GM cocultured with dimethylsulfoxide at the same concentration.ALP test revealed that after 10 days of culture in vitro the staining was more and more weakened and scattered and the ALP activity was more and more decreased with the increased concentration of SP600125.The extracellular calcium deposition of hASCs after 14 days of culture in vitro showed that the size and number of calcium nodules decreased with the increased concentration of SP600125.Conclusion SP600125 can suppress the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hASCs in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo identify the predictors of the positive results of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy for prostate cancer.

METHODSWe performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses on the relevant data on 385 male patients that underwent TRUS-guided biopsy for prostate cancer, including such potential predictors as age, body mass index (BMI), symptoms, results of digital rectal examination (DRE), tPSA, fPSA, free/total PSA ratio (f/tPSA), prostate volume (PV), and PSA density (PSAD) for identification of the risk factors related to the positive rate of biopsy. Then we constructed a scoring system as a tool for predicting prostate cancer in repeat biopsies and determined the sensitivity of the system by calculating the false positive rate using the receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTSAmong the 385 patients, 139 (36.1%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer. On multivariate analysis, age (P < 0.01), DRE (P < 0.01), tPSA (P < 0.01), fPSA (P < 0.01), f/tPSA (P < 0.01), PV (P < 0.01), and PSAD (P < 0.01) were all significant predictors of prostate cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed age, tPSA, f/tPSA, PV, and PSAD to be independent predictors, with ORs and 95% CIs of 1.07 (1.05-1.16), 1.05 (1.02-1.15), 0.97 (0.86-0.99), 0.98 (0.87-0.96), and 1.79 (1.48-2.06), respectively. Moreover, patients with the risk score of 3-5 had a significantly higher rate of prostate cancer than those with 0-2 (64% vs 11%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe scoring system on the key predictors of prostate cancer can help urologists to identify the men in need of prostatic biopsy.

Aged ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; methods ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; analysis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; methods

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; China ; epidemiology ; Death ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Suicide ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVEIn order to observe the therapeutic efficacy of food control to recurrent oral ulcer (ROU), alimentary control of certain foods was employed to relieve outbreak of ROU.

METHODSThe kits for food intolerant IgG of certain food were used to test the intolerant food of fifty patients with ROU. Observations and assessments for alimentary control were made after three months' treatment on these patients.

RESULTSThe top three of intolerant foods were crab, egg and milk and the remission rate of ROU reached 74% after treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe result of food intolerant IgG testing has certain function to alimentary control therapy for remitting the outbreak of ROU.

Adult ; Diet ; Female ; Food ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oral Ulcer

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and shortcoming of endovascular therapy with mainly endovascular graft in treating disorders occurring in the thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta.

METHODSTotal 137 cases with great vessel disorders including dissections, aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, aortic deceleration injury and coarctation were treated by endovascular technique. The lowest lesion located between the celiac and mesenteric arteries.

RESULTSTwo cases underwent emergent surgery due to acute visceral arterial insufficiency. Seven cases had early endoleaks. After a follow-up of 1 - 43 (average of 11) months, 2 late endoleaks were detected; 5 patients died, 4 of them were due to endograft unrelated diseases, one due to a recurrent multiple aneurysms.

CONCLUSIONEndovascular treatment is relatively safe and effective for treating high risky patients with lesions occurring in the great vessels and seems to have a prospective future, although the device needs to be further improved and the long-term efficacy should be confirmed.

Angioplasty ; methods ; Aortic Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo develop a rapid and simple multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method which discriminates extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) genes in sporadic Shigella isolates from 1998 to 2007 in Hangzhou city, China.

METHODSAfter ESBLs screening according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method, CTX-M, TEM, SHV and OXA-1 encoding genes were detected by using a multiplex PCR method, and the results were verified by 8 single gene PCR amplification.

RESULTSSeventeen isolates harbored ESBLs genes among 195 Shigella isolates (8.72%). Genes encoding CTX-M (17 strains), TEM (2 strains), OXA-1 (10 strains) and SHV (0 strains) were discriminated with multiplex PCR analysis, which coincided with eight single gene PCR analysis at 94.12%.

CONCLUSIONMultiplex PCR should be a suitable tool for initial rapid screening and discriminating ESBLs genes in Shigella isolates. With similar trend of national surveillance data, the proportion of sporadic Shigella isolates harbouring ESBLs genes might probably be on increase.

DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Shigella ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; beta-Lactamases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy differences of acupoints massage for asthenopia of video display terminal (VDT) under different exposure dose.

METHODSOne hundred and two cases (204 eyes) were divided into a low exposure group and a high exposure group, fifty-one cases in each group. The same intervention of acupoints massage on Cuanzhu (BL 2), Jingming (BL 1), Sizhukong (TE 23), Sibai (ST 2) and Taiyang(EX-HN 5) were given to the two groups, one acupoint for 5 min and once everyday, one month of which made a course. The symptom score, tear film break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer I test(SIT) were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The correlation coefficient of cubic curve model of the exposure dose was the biggest with symptom improvement index (P = 0.000), which indicated that the lower VDT exposure index was, the more obvious the symptom improved. The symptom improvement indices of low exposure group and high exposure group, which were (52.31 +/- 16.65)% and (28.93 +/- 13.35)% respectively, were statistical significant difference (P = 0.000). (2) Compared to before treatment, the levels of BUT and SIT in the two groups were both significantly higher (P < 0.05). Compared with the high exposure group, the levels of BUT and SIT in the low exposure group were increased by 0.826 s (P = 0.022) and 1.029 mm (P = 0.033), respectively, after the impact of BUT and SIT was corrected before the research.

CONCLUSIONThe acupoints massage can improve the symptoms and ocular physiology for patients with VDT asthenpia, and it is more effective for the low exposure cases.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Asthenopia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Computer Terminals ; utilization ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Massage ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Tears ; secretion ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate and analyze the current situation of the nurse anesthetists and their work situation in tertiary hospitals of Guangdong province and provide reference information for the standardization construction of perianesthesia nursing.Methods A self-designed questionnaire was used to survey the nurse anesthetists and their work situation in 53 tertiary hospitals in Guangdong province.Results There were 413 nurse anesthetists in total,and the setting rate of full-time head nurse in a department of anesthesiology was 32％ in 53 tertiary hospitals of Guangdong province.The occupational titles were mainly the primary title,and the constituent ratio was 61.7％;the educational backgrounds were mainly bachelor's degree,and the constituent ratio was 62％;ages mainly ranged from 26 to 39,and the constituent ratio was 55.7％.The main working contents were management of anesthesia supplies (drugs,disposable materials,apparatus and equipment),nursing in postanesthesia care unit,and cooperation and nursing for the anesthesia practice inside or outside the operating room.Conclusion Nurse anesthetists in the tertiary hospitals in Guangdong province are young,and their work involves a wide range with complicated contents,an unbalanced development in different districts has occurred,and thus the standardization construction of perianesthesia nursing should be further strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutical effect and side-effect of docetaxel combined with cisplatin (DDP) on the treatment of local advanced esophageal cancer with concomitant radiation therapy.

METHODSNinety patients with LOCAL advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were divided into two groups: (DDP + 5-Fu) group and (docetaxel + DDP) group. Chemotherapy was carried out every 4 weeks for a total of 4 courses. The radiation dose was 50.4 Gy/28FX.

RESULTSThe median survival time of patients in the (DDP + 5-Fu) group was 16 months and that in (docetaxel + DDP) group was 21 months (P = 0.0278). The 3-year survival rate in the (docetaxel + DDP) group was obviously higher than that in the (DDP + 5-Fu) group (23.9% vs. 12.1%). The ORR in (docetaxel + DDP) group (84.5%) was significantly higher than that in the (DDP + 5-Fu) group (71.1%) (P = 0.025). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of side-effects in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe conventional dose chemotherapy of docetaxel + DDP with concomitant radiation therapy showed a better partial remission rate and long-term survival rate for the treatment of local advanced esophageal cancer than the traditional chemotherapy (DDP + 5-Fu) with concomitant radiation therapy and the side-effects are not increased.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cystic Fibrosis ; etiology ; Dose Fractionation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Young Adult