Objective To study the correlation of Token Test and Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment in Chinese aphasia, and to offer objective basis for clinical application in China. Methods A total of 54 patients with aphasia after stroke were selected. Japanese revised Token Test was used to assess their language functions and Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment to assess their cognition functions. The associations between Token Test scores and every subentry scores, total scores on Leewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment were analyzed by using correlations analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Results Correlations of Token Test scores and every subentry scores, total scores in LOTCA were significant (all P < 0.05) by using Pearson correlations analysis and partial correlations analysis. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the main factor which affected the scores of Token Test was Visual and Spatial Perception. Conclusions The cognition function can promote the improvement of language functions of patients with aphasia after stroke, which may be related mostly to the perception of cognition function.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative arytenoid dislocation.
Methods From September 2003 to August 2013, the records of 16 patients with a history of postoperative arytenoid dislocation were reviewed. Patients matched in terms of date and type of procedures were chosen as the controls (n=16). Recorded data for all patients were demographics, smoking status, alcoholic status, preoperative physical status, airway evaluation, intubation procedures, preoperative laboratory test results, anesthetic consumption and intensive care unit stay. For arytenoid dislocation cases, we further analyzed the incidences of the left and right arytenoid dislocation, and the outcomes of surgical repair and conservative treatment. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, and were compared using the chi-squared test. Continuous variables were expressed as means±SD and compared using the Student’s unpaired t-test. To determine the predictors of arytenoid dislocation, a logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis.
Results Sixteen patients with postoperative arytenoid dislocation were enrolled, with a median age of 52 years. Most postoperative arytenoid dislocation patients (15/16, 93.75%) received surgical repair, except one patient who recovered after conservative treatment. None of the postoperative arytenoid dislocation patients were smokers. Red blood cell (P=0.044) and hemoglobin (P=0.031) levels were significantly lower among arytenoid dislocation cases compared with the controls.
Conclusions Non-smoking and anemic patients may be susceptible to postoperative arytenoid dislocation. However, neither of them was independent risk factor for postoperative arytenoid dislocation.

Objective To investigate the clinical and mammographic features of plasma cell mastitis.Methods Twenty-five patients(28 lesions)with histologically confirmed plasma cell mastitis, aged from 26 to 70 years(mean age 41 years),were examined with X-ray mammography.The clinical manifestations and imaging features were retrospectively reviewed.Results No case was in lactation.The painful irregular masses,ranged from 1.3 to 8cm in size,were found in 22 patients,while 3 patients with acute episode.Recurrent episodes of breast masses were noted in 4 patients.Based on the mammographic appearances,the plasma cell mastitis were classified as the following four types:inflammation-like type (2/28),ductal ectasia type(3/28),focal infiltration type(10/28)and nodular type(13/28).The valuable radiogyaphic signs:(1)An asymmetrically increased density along the lactiferous duct with a flame-like appearance,inhomogeneous low density tubular structures and scattered stick-shape calcifications.(2) Architectural distortion and oil cysts formation in adjacent area,(3)Subareolar ductal ectasia.Conclusions The clinical and mammographic characteristics of plasma cell mastitis are critical to avoiding unnecessary surgery.Histopathological result is needed for the diagnosis in patients highly suspected of malignancy.

In order to effectively remove the invalid impurities in Tongan injection, optimize the optimal parameters of the impurity removal technology of liquid mixing process, in this paper, taking Tongan injection as the research object, with the contents of celandine alkali, and sinomenine, solids reduction efficiency, and related substances inspection as the evaluation indexes, the removal of impurities and related substances by the combined process of refrigeration, coction and activated carbon adsorption were investigated, the feasibility of the impurity removal method was definited and the process parameters were optimized. The optimized process parameters were as follows: refrigerated for 36 h, boiled for 15 min, activated carbon dosage of 0.3%, temperature 100 degrees C, adsorption time 10 min. It can effectively remove the tannin, and other impurities, thus ensure the quality and safety of products.
Adsorption ; Charcoal ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the elastic limit and relevant enclasp force of the non-precious metal casting clasp.

METHODSCasting clasp samples of five cobalt-chromium alloys and one 18 - 8 nickel-chromium alloy were made from prefabricated clasp wax by invesing, casting, sandblasting, and ultrasonic cleaning. The process of casting clasp samples deflected by loading and returned by unloading was tested and electric signals were collected by an omnipotent material machine. The analog electric signal was converted to digital signal by an analog to digital converter and stored in a computer. The elastic limit and the relevant enclasp force were analyzed using a relative software.

RESULTSThe elastic limit and the relevant enclasp force of the casting clasp made from the 18 - 8 nickel-chromium alloy were smallest and those of the clasps made from the cobalt-chromium alloys in various brands were different. The range of the elastic limit of the cobalt-chromium alloy casting clasp with the length of 5.0 mm in undercut was 0.28 mm-0.33 mm and the relevant enclasp force was 14.42 g-19.28 g.

CONCLUSIONSIn clinic, we should select the suitable undercut deepness wherein the cobalt-chromium alloy casting clasps, according to different brands of the casting alloy, undercut length, undercut slope, and the clasp thickness.

Chromium Alloys ; Cobalt ; Dental Alloys ; Dental Clasps ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Elasticity ; Humans ; Nickel ; chemistry ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo develop a new drug of treating the hepatitis C virus by studing the mechanisms of songzhi pills.

METHODThe four-wee old mice and two-month old rats were chosen to induce interferon.

RESULTThe contents of interferon among the groups treated with songzhi pills were significantly higher than those of the normal group and the model group (P < 0.01),

CONCLUSIONSSongzhi pills may have the function of inducing interferon.

Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyporales ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the levels of bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) in human follicular fluid (FF) and its association with response to ovarian stimulation.

METHODSWestern blotting was performed to determine the levels of BMP-15 in FF obtained from follicle aspirates in 70 patients undergoing IVF treatment. According to the response to ovarian stimulation the patients were divided into poor responder group and normal responder group.

RESULTBMP-15 levels in FF of poor responders were significantly higher than those in normal responders (1.01 +/- 0.34 vs 0.77 +/- 0.24, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIncreased levels of BMP-15 in FF may be associated with poor response to ovarian stimulation.

Adult ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; administration & dosage ; Follicular Fluid ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Growth Differentiation Factor 9 ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ovulation Induction

OBJECTIVETo identify the fibrinogen (Fg) gene mutations in a Chinese pedigree of congenital afibrinogenemia.

METHODSThe plasma Fg activity and protein of the proband and his family members were detected. Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of fibrinogen gene were amplified by PCR and sequenced thereafter.

RESULTSTwo mutations, 7972 del G in FGB and T2543A in FGG, were found in the proband.

CONCLUSIONSFGG2543 is a polymorphism site, which lead to the polymorphism of gamma144 I/K. The G deletion at base 7972 of FGB contributes to the frameshift mutation after amino acid 419, resulting in the truncated beta chain without the terminal 27 amino acids. The latter may contributes to the pathogenetic mechanisms in Chinese congenital afibrinogenemia patients. The G deletion at base 7972 of FGB is identified for the first time.

Adult ; Afibrinogenemia ; congenital ; genetics ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; Humans ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanical properties of Co-Cr ceramic alloy after recasts.

METHODSCo-Cr ceramic alloy cast samples were prepared and recast for 3 times without adding any new Co-Cr ceramic alloy. The tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength, percentage of elongation, flexural strength, flexural modulus and Vickers hardness of each specimen were measured.

RESULTSBeing cast for different times, the Co-Cr ceramic alloy showed no significant differences on their tensile strength, 0.2% yield strength, percentage of elongation, flexural strength, flexural modulus and Vickers hardness.

CONCLUSIONCo-Cr ceramic alloy can be recast for 3 times at least, without decrease of the mechanical properties.

Alloys ; Ceramics ; Chromium Alloys ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Hardness ; Materials Testing ; Metal Ceramic Alloys ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo analyze the changes of carotid-femoral and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity in patients with essential hypertension, and effects of age and levels blood pressure levels on these changes.

METHODSAutomatic pulse wave velocity (PWV) measuring system was applied to examine carotid-femoral PWV (CFPWV) and carotid-radial PWV (CRPWV) as the parameters reflecting central elastic large arterial and peripheral muscular medium-sized arterial elasticity respectively. 517 hypertensive patients aged 17-82 years (272 males and 245 females, mean age 52.0 +/- 13.0 years) and 118 healthy subjects aged 19-82 years (52 males and 66 females, mean age 54.2 +/- 13.8 years) were recruited in the study.

RESULTSCFPWV increased with age in both groups (P < 0.001), whereas CRPWV did not change significantly. CFPWV and CRPWV both increased with blood pressure. A stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that age and systolic blood pressure were positively related to CFPWV independently, while diastolic blood pressure was significantly associated with CRPWV.

CONCLUSIONSAge and components of blood pressure exert different effects on elasticity of central elastic large artery and peripheral muscular medium-sized artery. Examining the change of large arterial elasticity has important clinical value in hypertensive patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Arteries ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Elasticity ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse ; Radial Artery ; physiopathology ; Young Adult