Objective To investigate the life satisfaction and its related factors in primary caregivers of breast cancer patients. Methods The Life Satisfactory Index A (LSIA) and self-administrated questionnaire were used. The life satisfaction between breast cancer patients'primary caregivers and breast benign patients' primary caregivers were compared. The factors of the life satisfaction in primary caregivers of breast cancer patients were analyzed. Results The life satisfaction was poorer in the breast cancer patients' primary caregivers than in the breast benign patients' primary caregivers (P<0.01). The life satisfaction in the breast cancer patients' primary caregivers was correlated with the stage of breast cancer, course of disease, primary caregivers' age and family monthly income (P<0.05). Conclusion The life satisfaction in breast cancer patients' primary caregivers is worse and is related with stage of breast cancer, course of disease, primary caregivers' age and family monthly income.

Objective To compare and evaluate the performance and applications of three assays in preliminary screening of dengue infections.Methods This study was designed as a retrospective study.Clinical data were obtained from 2 137 borderline cases from September to October in 2014 and 2015.Markers of dengue infections of serum samples were detected by NS1 antigen captured ELISA, dengue NS1 detect rapid test and dengue IgM detect rapid test, respectively.Chi square test was used to compare the preliminary screening value of these 3 methods.Forty-eight diagnosed patients were also examined in the 1st-3rd day, 4th-5th day, 6th-7th days and 14th day after infection to access the sensitivities and specificities of three assays.Results Nine hundred and fifty-seven ( 57.2%) cases in 2014 and 48 ( 10.4%) cases in 2015 were diagnosed to be Dengue fever of 2 137 borderline cases.The overall sensitivity of NS1-ELISA was superior to NS1 and IgM rapid detect test (χ2 =40.865,P<0.001;χ2 =151.383,P<0.001).No significant differences were found in specificity between three assays(χ2 =0.661,P=0.416;χ2 =0.548,P=0.459; χ2 =2.397,P=0.122).The NS1 detecting assays were sensitive in 7 days after infection, but the sensitivity of IgM detecting assay increased over time.Conclusions NS1 detecting assays had good sensitivities and specificities, which can be used as an important method in preliminary screening of dengue infection.ELISA or rapid test can be selected according to epidemic situation.

Objective To explore the expression difference of cytokines related to nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway among different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in the patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).Methods Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-1 (IL-1),interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in 146 patients with DN and 62 individuals undergoing healthy physical examination in the control group were measured.Results The levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1,IL-6 and IL-8 in various DN groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05).The levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1,IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly different among groups of different TCM syndromes (P＜0.05).With the progression of DN,all cytokines levels showed a gradually increasing trend,moreover the increased extents and time were different in different TCM syndrome types of DN.Conclusion The levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1,IL-6 and IL-8 related to NF-κB signaling pathway are correlated with different TCM syndromes types and may play a role in the occurrence and progression of different TCM syndrome types of DN.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of DSA-guided percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder catheter drainage (PTGCD) in treating aged patients with acute cholecystitis complicated by severe diseases. Methods The clinical data of 15 aged patients with acute cholecystitis or complicated by severe diseases, who were encountered at authors’ hospital in the past three years and were treated with PTGCD, were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical results were discussed. Results PTGCD was successfully accomplished with single procedure in all 15 patients. Abdominal pain was relieved within one to three days, and the abdominal symptoms and signs subsided or disappeared. Reexamination of routine blood test showed that the white blood cell count decreased to normal range in 1 - 2 weeks, and complete cure was achieved in some patients. Secondary surgery was carried out in some patients after the clinical condition was improved. During the follow-up period no complications occurred in all patients except one who developed biliary leakage after the catheter was retrieved two weeks after the treatment. Conclusion For the treatment of complicated acute cholecystitis in aged patients who are not suitable to receive surgery, DSA-guided percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder catheter drainage is an ideal therapeutic means as it can significantly relieve clinical symptoms.

Objective To study the interobserver variabilities and the differential diagnosis value of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System-Ultrasound (BI-RADS-US) lexicon for small ( ≤ 2 cm) breast nodules. Methods Between January 2009 and December 2011, 289 patients with small (≤2 cm) breast nodules (n=317) were included. According to sizes, the lesions were divided into two groups, i.e., 0-1 cm (n=160) group and 1-2 cm (n=157)group. Each lesion was described independently by 3 radiologists using BI-RADS-US lexicon. Interobserver variabilities were assessed by Kappa test. Chi-square test was used to compare the frequency difference of the descriptors between malignant and benign lesions. Sensitivity, speciifcity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negtive predictive value were calculated. Results (1)Moderate agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin, echo pattern, surrounding tissue and calciifcations (κ=0.44, 0.57, 0.48, 0.43, 0.51 and 0.57) in 0-1 cm group. Substantial agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin and echo pattern (κ=0.65, 0.61, 0.64 and 0.63) in 1-2 cm group. (2)Irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo and microcalciifcations were more frequently found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 0-1 cm group [52.3% (34/65) vs 20.0% (19/95), 38.5%(25/65) vs 13.7%(13/95), 75.4%(49/65) vs 32.6%(31/95), 18.6%(12/65) vs 0 (0/95) and 10.8%(7/65) vs 2.1%(2/95);χ2=18.19, 13.08, 28.22, 16.39 and 3.95;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.047]. Similarly, irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were signiifcantly more frequent found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 1-2 cm group [74.2%(49/66) vs 12.1%(11/91), 36.3%(24/66) vs 5.5%(5/91), 93.9%(62/66) vs 22.0%(20/91), 37.9%(25/66) vs 3.3%(3/91), 30.3%(20/66) vs 7.7%(7/91), 15.2%(10/66) vs 0 (0/91) and 16.7%(11/66) vs 4.4%(4/91);χ2=62.59, 24.21, 79.40, 31.22, 13.73, 12.30 and 6.67;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.010]. (3)In both groups, a good sensitivity was demonstrated (75.4%&93.9%) when using the non-circumscribed margin as a criterion for malignancy, and high speciifcity was achieved in two groups (80.0%-100%and 87.9%-100%) when other descriptors including irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were used as differentiation criteria. Conclusions Good interobserver agreement can be achieved using the BI-RADS-US lexicon in the diagnosis of small breast nodules. Non-circumscribed margin are proved as the most valuable sign for screening malignant breast lesions ≤ 2 cm. High speciifcity was found for irregular shape, nonparallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, Cooper′s ligament changes and microcalciifcations, which can help biopsy and preoperative diagnosis.

Background and purpose:It was reported that chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand stromal cell-derived factor 1(SDF-1)were involved in the proliferation,differentiation,and metastasis of tumor.This study was designed to observe the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissue and study the relationship between the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 and different clinicopathlogical characteristics,and further to explore the clinical significance.Methods:For the detection of the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4,43 primary hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues,27 normal hypopharyngeal tissues,34 lymph node metastastatic lesions and 9 normal lymph node lesions were detected by immunohistochemical method using rabbit anti-human CXCR4 polyclonal antibody.Results:The positive expression rates of CXCR4 in 43 hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and normal tissues were 95.3% and 22.2%,respectively(P

?AlM: To analyze and study the changes of intraocular pressure ( lOP) , visual field and P-ERG on patients with big cup/disk (C/D) in 24h.
?METHODS: A total of 120 cases ( 240 eyes ) diagnosed with big C/D (C/D>0. 3) were divided into group A (C/D<0. 6, 67 cases, 114 eyes ) and group B ( C/D≥0. 6, 73 cases, 126 eyes). Forty cases (80 eyes) with small C/D (C/D≤0. 3) were chosen as control group. All cases underwent 24h lOP examination, vision examination of 30-2 SlTA - standard static threshold and pattern electroretinogram ( P-ERG) examination. The differences between the examination indexes of the three groups were analyzed.
?RESULTS:There was no significant statistical difference in the 24h average lOP (P>0. 05) among the three groups, while the amplitudes had significant statistical differences (P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, the lOP amplitudes of group B were obviously higher, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05). ln terms of static threshold visual fields, the mean deviations (MD) and pattern standard deviations (PSD) of the three groups had significant statistical differences ( P < 0. 05 ). Comparison between every two groups:compared with the control group, the MD and the PSD were significantly increased in group B, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05); while there was no significant statistical difference in group A (P>0. 05);Compared with group A, the MD and the PSD were significantly higher in group B, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05). ln terms of P-ERG examination, there was no significant statistical difference in P50’s latent periods among the three groups (P>0. 05), but there were significant statistical differences in amplitudes (P<0. 05). Comparison between every two groups: compared with the control group, the P50’s amplitude was significantly decreased in group B, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05), while there was no significant statistical difference in group A (P>0. 05); Compared with group A, the P50’s amplitude of group B was significantly lower, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05).
?CONCLUSlON: When the patients’ C/D is no less than 0. 6, there are obvious changes of 24h lOP, static threshold visual field and P-ERG’s P50 wave. For patients with big C/D, a single lOP examination is far from sufficient, so an in-depth visual function examination should be performed. Meanwhile, it’s feasible to regard C/D 0. 6 as a screening criterion for suspected glaucoma.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)level and the 131Ⅰahsorbante of thyroid nodule in patients with struma nadosa,to search for simpler and safer methods for differentiating thyroid nodule.Methods Detecting the 131Ⅰ absorbance of thyroid nodule by radioisotope scanning.then the patients were divided into warm and cold nodule groups,and the normal control group was also set up;the levels of IGF-1,FT3,FT4,sTSH were detected in serum of patients with struma nadosa by radio immunoassay,then the correlation between these data and the 131Ⅰabsorbance of thyroid nodule was analyzed.Results In the patients with warnl nodule,the level of serum IGF-1,FT3,FT4 and the 131Ⅰ absorbance of thyroid nodule[(315.86±22.74)μg/L,(9.95±5.62),(67.27±27.31)ng/L,0.64±0.17]were increased obviously when compared with the control group [(256.13±39.85)μg/L,(2.80±1.30),(13.51±5.50)ng/L,0.35±0.15],but the sTSH[(0.35±0.03)mU/L]went down significantly than the control group[(2.71±1.17)mU/L],the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.01).In the patients with cold nodule,the level of serum IGF-1,FT3,FT4,sTSH[(263.17±30.23)μg/L,(2.89±0.98),(14.23±2.84)ng/L,(2.81±0.42)mU/L] had no significant difference compared with the control group(P＞0.05).The level of serum IGF-1 was positively correlated with the 131Ⅰ absorbance of thyroid nodule(r＝0.835,P＜0.01),but negtively correlated with sTSH(r＝-0.326,P＜0.05)in the patients with warm nodule.Conclusion The level of sernm IGF-1 is closely correlated with the 131Ⅰ absorbance of thyroid nodule in patients with struma nadosa.

This study is to screen the Chinese herbal compounds which could inhibit the production of Abeta and investigate the underlying mechanism. Ten types of compounds which have potential value in the treatment of AD were selected as initial screening trial. The cell models which used could overexpress Abeta and beta-secretases or Abeta and gamma-secretases. Extracellular Abeta was determined by ELISA after the cell models treated with different concentrations of compounds (0.5-100 micromol x L(-1)), separately. Then the compounds were selected which could inhibit extracellular Abeta and their best concentration ranges were decided, too. Furthermore, the cell viability and apoptosis rate, the level of intracellular Abeta, beta and gamma-secretases were determined after the cell models treated with different concentrations of selected compounds. The results showed that 4 of the 10 compounds could reduce the level of extracellular Abeta; they were cryptotanshinone, astragalosides, gastrodin and paeoniflorin, and their best concentration ranges were 0.5-5.0, 0.5-5.0, 5.0-50, 1.0-25 micromol x L(-1), respectively. Further study indicated that the 4 selected compounds were nontoxic to the cellular models and lowering intracellular Abeta were more effective compared with extracellular; of which astragalosides and gastrodin showed dose-dependent inhibition to the activities of beta and gamma-secretases, with the maximum inhibiting rates of 78.2% and 80.3%, respectively. In conclusion, cryptotanshinone, astragalosides, gastrodin and paeoniflorin could inhibit the expression and secretion of Abeta, and the underlying inhibiting mechanism of astragalosides and gastrodin were related with the reduction of the beta and gamma-secretase activities, respectively.
Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Apoptosis ; Benzyl Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE:To study the interaction mechanism between flavonoids and human serum albumin (HSA),and to compare the effects of different B-ring substitutions(hydroxyl,methoxyl group)of flavonoids on macromolecular receptor. METH-ODS:The interaction regularity between three flavonoids with different B-ring substitutions(quercetin,hesperetin,methyl hespere-tin) and HSA was studied with fluorescence spectroscopy,the fluorescence quenching types between 3 flavonoids and HSA were determined and analyzed,and the velated binding constant,binding site and thermodynamic parameters were calculated. RE-SULTS:The quenching constants (Ksv) and binding constants (KA) were decreased with the increase of temperatures. The number of binding site(n)was approximately equal to one,and the thermodynamic parameters ΔH<0,ΔS>0,the binding interaction of these compounds with macromolecules was influenced because of the difference of the B-ring substituents. CONCLUSIONS:The quenching mechanism between three flavonoids and HSA was static quenching;the number of binding site was one;the interaction force of the three compounds with HSA was mainly static electricity,and hydroxyl group in the B-ring was likely the major active group and exerted stronger binding force than methoxyl group to connect with macromolecules.