Objective:To investigate middle school students' parent-related fears of poor performance on im- portant examinations in the United Stated and China.Methods:The“Failure Outcome Expectancy (FOE)”inventory was used to measure students' perceptions of test anxiety in a sample of 1,215 public middle school students,ages 14and 15.Results:The findings indicated that students in different countries reported similar trends in the reasons for their parent-related test anxiety including student worries with respect to confidence about admission to higher institu- tions,and student contributions to parental annoyances in relation to academic achievement.However,cross-cultural differences revealed that Chinese students reported significantly expectations,or the potential for annoying their par- ents than American students.American students reported a significantly stronger preoccupation about their capacity to face challenges in life than Chinese students.Additionally,gender differences were more significant in the western culture of the United States than in China.American female students reported stronger perceptions on seven items of parent-related causes of their test anxiety than Chinese female students.Chinese male students reported stronger pre- occupation only on two items than their American counterpart.Conclusion:Chinese and American students have similar trends in the reasons for their parent-related test anxiety.There are also culture difference and gender differ- ence in this problem.

Adult ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Air Pollution, Indoor ; statistics & numerical data ; Hong Kong ; Noise, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; Restaurants ; statistics & numerical data ; Temperature

Objective To investigate the potential of chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML) cell line KCL22 in indu-cing leukemia in NOD-SCID mice for setting up a basis for constructing a CML mouse transplantation tumor model. Methods 2 ×107 KCL22 cells in logarithmic growth phase were injected via the tail vein into experimental NOD-SCID mice whereas PBS was injected to the mice of control group.General condition of the mice of both groups was observed.Wright staining was used to observe the changes of blood and bone marrow smears.PCR was conducted to detect the transcription level of BCR-ABL, and histology with HE staining was used to evaluate the tumor cell invasion in the liver and spleen. Results Four weeks after the injection of KCL22 cells, the mice in experimental group showed physical signs of decreased reactivity, depression, swollen hindlimb muscles and petechia on the hindlimb femur.Peripheral white blood cells ( WBC) began to increase after 5 weeks, with a significantly increased quantity compared with the control group (P<0.05).Imma-ture granulocytes could be seen in blood and bone marrow smears, and tumor cell infiltration was found in the liver and spleen.BCR-ABL was highly expressed in bone marrow cells.Survival time of the experimental mice without therapy was 70 days, significantly shorter than that in the control group ( >90 days) (P<0.05).Conclusions A NOD-SCID mouse model of CML transplantation tumor is successfully established with leukemia KCL22 cells.

Objective To construct BCR-ABL SH3-T79Y mutant recombinant adenovirus vectors and investigate its effects on apoptosis of K562/G01 cells.Methods SH3-T79Y mutant was amplified by overlapping PCR with pMig210 as template and cloned into recombinant adenovirus vectors .After identifying , packaging and amplifying , the recombinant adenovirus vectors containing SH 3-T79Y mutant was collected .Recombinant adenovirus vectors were transferred into K562/G01 cells.Then transfection efficiency was determinated , changes of cell morphology were observed by Wright 's staining , cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry , BCR-ABL and CrkL phospho-rylation was detected by Western blot .Results The vectors were successfully constructed .Transfection efficiency was more than 80%after transferring into K562/G01 cells for 72 h;there was obvious apoptosis phenomenon , cell apoptosis significantly increased to 32.46% compared with the control groups ( P<0.05 ) , BCR-ABL and CrkL phosphorylation significantly decreased and so did the expression of BCR-ABL( P<0.05 ) .Conclusions Success-fully constructed the SH 3-T79 Y mutant recombinant adenovirus vectors and it may promote the apoptosis of K 562/G01 cells by inhibiting BCR-ABL and CrkL phosphorylation .

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of IFNα combined with mannan peptide in treatment of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ). Methods Eighty HBeAg-positive CHB patients with HBV DNA quantity ranging from 10 to 10 eopies/mL were enrolled and randomized into the treatment group and the control group ( n = 40 for each ). Patients in treatment group were given daily subcutaneous injection of IFNα-2b 5,000,000 U for 52 weeks, and received mannan peptide 10 mg per intravenous injection or 2. 5 mg per intramuscular injection for a total of 2 to 3 treatment courses (12 weeks for each). The control group received only IFNα-2b treatment. Liver function, serum markers of hepatitis B, HBV DNA quantity and blood tests were performed before the treatment and at 2, 4, 8, 16, 26 and 52-week during the treatment; and the adverse effects were recorded. Results The rates for ALT normalization, negative HBsAg, negative HBeAg, HBeAg seroconversion and negative HBV DNA were 91. 8% , 17. 5% , 52. 5% , 27. 5 % and 47. 5% at 52nd week in the treatment group, while those in the control group were 80. 0% , 12. 5% , 30. 0% , 10. 0 % and 25. 0% , respectively. There were significant differences in HBeAg-negative, HBeAg-seroeonversion and HBV DNA-negative rates between two groups (χ2 = 4. 178, 4.021 and 4.381, P < 0. 05 ) , and these indexes in the treatment group were increased to 57. 5% , 30. 0% and 50. 0 respectively at 52nd week after drug withdraw. White blood cells began to be elevated at 4th week and were restored to the normal levels at 8th week in the treatment group, while the count in the control was lower than the normal value even at 52nd week of the treatment with the average of (3.45±1. 18)×109/L. Conclusion Alpha-interferon combined with mannan peptide therapy is effective for patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, which may restore the declined peripheral WBC counts induced by interferon and improve the compliance.

Objective To observe the long term effects of arthroscopic knee debridement and reconstructing operation for treating osteoarthritis in patients with Kaschin-Beck disease. Methods Thirty-one cases of patients with Kaschin-Beck disease were followed for 6 years after operation of articular clearing by arthroscope. Index of pain, symptoms of self-evaluation, range of motion, walking distance, standing test by affected leg when bending at 30° or 60° were recorded and compared with the preoperative results. Results Twenty-four cases were followed up for 6 years. Six years after operation the pain index(3.38 ± 2.87) was dramatically decreased compared to that before operation (6.88 ± 1.45, t = 5.30, P ＜ 0.05). Patients symptoms markedly improved by subjective self-evaluation was 70.83% (17/24), the effective rate was 100% (24/24). The number of cases that could stand up when leg bending at 30° or 60° were 21,18 cases, respectively, compared with that of preoperative of 14, 11 cases, respectively, the difference was statistically significant(x2 = 5.17,4.27, all P ＜ 0.05). Six years after operation the walking distance(3 cases ＜ 1 km, 11 cases 1 - 5 km and 10 cases ＞ 5 km) were greatly improved compared to the results before operation (12 cases ＜ 1 km, 9 cases 1 - 5 km and 3 cases ＞ 5 km, U = 2.88, P ＜0.05). Six years after operation the knee activity[(132.25 ± 14.52)°] remained at the same level, compared with that of preoperative [(131 .58 ± 14.68) °], the difference was not statistically significant (t = 0.16, P ＞ 0.05) .Conclusions The method of arthroscopic joint debridement to cure Kaschin-Beck disease knee osteoarthritis can significantly reduce pain, improve function and walking distance, with more stable long-term satisfactory outcome.

The effects of Cinnamon granules on pharmacokinetics of berberine in Rhizoma Coptidis granules in healthy male volunteers, and the compatibility mechanism of Jiao-Tai-Wan (JTW) composed of Rhizoma Coptidis granules and Cinnamon granules were investigated. The concentration of berberine in plasma of healthy male volunteers was determined directly by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after an oral administration of Rhizoma Coptidis granules alone or combined with Cinnamon granules (JTW). The plasma concentration-time curves of berberine were plotted. The data were analyzed with Drug and Statistics (DAS) 2.0 pharmacokinetic program (Chinese Pharmacology Society) to obtain the main pharmacokinetic parameters. The results showed that the plasma concentration-time curve of berberine was described by a two-compartment model. The C(max), T(max), t(1/2) and CLz/F of berberine in Rhizoma Coptidis granules were 360.883 μg/L, 2.0 h, 3.882 h, 119.320 L·h(-1)·kg(-1) respectively, and those of berberine in JTW were 396.124 μg/L, 1.5 h, 4.727 h, 57.709 L·h(-1)·kg(-1) respectively. It was suggested that Rhizoma Coptidis granules combined with Cinnamon granules could increase the plasma concentration of berberine, promote berberine absorption and lengthen the detention time of berberine in healthy male volunteers.

Background Researches documented that retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in unaffected carriers of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) becomes thickened in different quadrants to different degrees.But the change of their macular thickness is still unclear.Objective This study was to clarify RNFLT and macular thickness by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in unaffected female carriers of LHON families.Methods Five female LHON patients (5 eyes) from 5 LHON families,eighteen unaffected female carriers (18eyes) from 18 LHON families and twenty-five age-matched healthy female controls (25 eyes) were included in this study.The patients and genetic carriers were diagnosed in PLA General Hospital from 2011 September to 2012 October.Regular ocular examination were performed followed by OCT measurement of retinas.The Optic Disc Cube 200×200 and Macular Cube 200×200 protocols were used during the OCT measurement.Average (360°) RNFLT,RNFLT at four quadrantic sections,cube average macular thickness and macular thickness of nine Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) sub-areas were compared among the LHON genetic carriers,LHON patients and normal controls.Results Compared to the normal control group,significant reduced values were seen in temporal,superior,nasal and inferior side of sub-area macular thickness in the LHON female carriers (P=0.022,0.046,0.024,0.008).In addition,but no significant differences were found in cube average thickness,central subarea macular thickness,temporal,superior,nasal and inferior side of lateral sub-area macular thickness,average RNFLT,and temporal,superior,nasal and inferior quadrant RNFLT between the LHON female carriers and normal controls (P=0.102,0.051,0.238,0.663,0.1 10,0.104,0.419,0.371,0.158,0.063,0.563).Compared to the unaffected female carrier group,female patients showed significant reductions in cube average macular thickness,temporal,superior,nasal and inferior side of sub-area macular thickness,temporal,superior,nasal and inferior side of lateral sub-area mac ular thickness,average R NFLT and temporal,superior,and inferior quadrant RNFLT (P =0.000,0.000,0.000,0.007,0.002,0.002,0.000,0.000,0.040,0.000,0.016,0.000,0.000) except for the central subarea macular thickness and nasal quadrant RNFLT (P=0.388,0.580).Conclusions Unaffected LHON female carriers show a normal peripapillary RNFLT,but the macular thickness at medial sub-area is thinner.This first report offers an information of macular structure change in unaffected LHON female carriers,which suggest that macular damage appears prior to RNFLT change.

?AIM: To explore the relation of homocysteine ( Hcy ) and its metabolic related indicators with primary angle-closure glaucoma ( PACG) .?METHODS: In this study, a total of 150 PACG patients and 150 controls were enrolled. The patients with PACG were diagnosed by applanation tonometer, Humphrey perimetry ( HVF ) , optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) , gonioscope. The normal controls were recruited from physical examination center. Blood samples were collected and the plasma was used to determine homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid. DNA was extracted to determine the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR ) C677TT genotype and gene polymorphism.?RESULTS:There was a statistically significant difference (t=2. 04,P=0. 04) in mean homocysteine levels between patients with PACG ( 16. 11 ± 1. 66μmol/L ) and controls (15. 74± 1. 52μmol/L). The level of vitamin B12 in PACG group was 248. 09 ± 119. 07pg/mL and the control group was 230. 21 ± 142. 93pg/mL. No statistically significant difference was found on the vitamin B12 level between the two groups ( t = 0. 84, P = 0. 40 ). The folic acid levels showed no statistically significant differences( t=1. 65,P=0.17) between the PACG group(12. 02±7. 81ng/mL) and the control group (13. 15 ± 6. 25ng/mL). The frequency distribution of the MTHFR C677T genotypes was found to be significantly associated (χ2 =6. 2,P<0. 05) with PCAG (CC 84. 7%, CT 4. 7%, TT 10. 7%) as compared to the controls (CC 94. 7%, CT 2. 0%, TT 3. 3%). The frequency distribution of TT genotypes of MTHFR C677T in the PACG group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Moreover, our findings showed significant difference (χ2=14. 2,P<0. 05) between the allele frequency of the C677T single nucleotide polymorphism within the MTHFR gene in POAG patients ( T 87. 0%, C 13. 0%) and the control group(T 95. 7%,C 4. 3%) .?CONCLUSION: These results show that the Hcy level and the TT genotypes of MTHFR C677T were higher in the PACG patients than in controls. Therefore, our data suggests that high Hcy level and the related indicators are associated with high PACG risk.