Objective To investigate question comprehension and production among agrammatic aphasics, and to explore the mechanisms of any dysfunction in questioning.Methods Twenty aphasics were recruited in this study.According to the Chinese Agrammatism Battery,10 were classified as agrammatic (the agrammatic group) and 10 as non-agrammatic (the non-agrammatic group).Ten normal subjects served as a control group.All the subjects were tested in terms of their comprehension and production of questions using a set of general and what-where-who- why questions (wh-questions).Results No significant difference was found between the two experimental groups with regard to the correct comprehension and production of both general and wh-questions.However,there was a sig- nificant difference in correctness between comprehension and production.The performance of the agrammatic aphasics was worse than that of the non-agramatics and the normal subjects.Conclusion The impaired question comprehen- sion and production of Chinese agrammatic aphasics has its own characteristies which can form a basis for rehabilita- tion planning and outcome prediction.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Methods From January 2012 to January 2013,29 patients with histopathologically confirmed NPC who received radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy were included in this study.All patients underwent hearing tests,including pure tone audiometry and acoustic immittance measurement,before and after the IMRT.The cochlear doses for each ear were also collected for analysis.A prospective analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between cochlear dose and SNHL in patients with NPC,and the effects of other factors,including time after radiotherapy,chemotherapy,T stage,and age,were also analyzed.Results Of the 58 ears studied,6(10％) had low-frequency SNHL,and 17 (29％) had highfrequency SNHL.There were significant differences in mean cochlear doses between the patients who developed SNHL after radiotherapy and those who did not (left ears:46.1 Gy vs.35.5 Gy,P =0.006;right ears:45.0 Gy vs.35.8 Gy,P =0.009).When the mean cochlear dose was less than 44 Gy,only 15％ (6/38) of ears had high-frequency SNHL.The invasion of skull base bone was also a significant risk factor for SNHL(P =0.047),but age,chemotherapy,and time after IMRT were not significant risk factors.Conclusions The mean cochlear dose and invasion of skull base bone are significant risk factors for SNHL in patients with NPC after radiotherapy.It is recommended that the mean cochlear dose should be limited to 44 Gy to minimize the incidence of SNHL after IMRT.

Objective To evaluate the safety and therapeutic effect of covered expandable metallic stent placement combined with interventional chemotherapy in treating malignant esophago-tracheal fistulae. Methods A total of 60 patients with esophago-tracheal fistula were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into control group (n=28) and study group (n=32). Patients of the control group were treated with covered stent implantation only, while patients of the study group were treated with combination use of covered stent implantation and interventional chemotherapy. All the patients were followed up regularly, the short-term and long-term results were determined, and the effect rate, median survival time and complications were statistically analyzed. Results Among the 60 patients, successful obstruction of the fistula was obtained in 58 with a success rate of 96.7%. The median survival time of the 58 patients was 5.8 months. The median survival time of the control group and the study group was 3.6 months and 8.7 months respectively, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The one-month, 3-month and 6-month effect rates were 78.1%, 68.8% and 62.5% respectively. The incidence of esophageal stent re-stenosis in the study group was much lower than that in the control group. Conclusion The combination use of covered stent implantation and interventional chemotherapy can effectively improve the median survival time of patients with malignant esophago-tracheal fistula, and reduce the occurrence of stent-related complications. Therefore, covered expandable metallic stent placement combined with interventional chemotherapy is an effective and safe treatment for malignant esophago-tracheal fistulae.

Objective · To detect the vitamin D2 and D3 levels in the patients with moderate and severe depression. Methods · Eighty-five patientswho met the criteria for major depressive disorder were recruited (53 patients with moderate depression, 32 patients with severe depression). Fifty agematchedhealthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Serum 25 (OH) D2, 25 (OH) D3 and total 25 (OH) D2/D3 levels were detected by using liquidchromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The risk factors which might influence the severity of depression were screened by Logisticregression analysis. Results · The serum 25 (OH) D2, 25 (OH) D3 and total 25 (OH) D2/D3 levels in the case group was lower than those in the controlgroup (P=0.012, P=0.000, P=0.000). The patients with moderate depression presented significantly lower serum 25 (OH) D3 and total 25 (OH) D2/D3 levelsthan the controls did (P=0.000), although no significant difference in serum 25 (OH) D2 levels was found between these two groups. As well, the serum 25 (OH) D2, 25 (OH) D3 and total 25 (OH) D2/D3 levels in patients with severe depression were significantly lower than those in patients with moderate depression and controls (P<0.05). The body mass index of severe depression group was much higher than that of moderate depression group and control group (P=0.002). Both overweight/obesity and the concentration of vitamin D may be the major influencing factors of depression severity (P=0.034, P=0.011). Conclusion · Vitamin D2 and D3 deficiency in depressive patients, particularly in those patients with severe depression, was shown in the present study. In addition, overweight/obesity as well as the concentration of vitamin D may exert the significant influence on the severity of depression. Vitamin D supplementation and weight control may be needed to be considered in making therapeutic strategies of major depressive disorder.

In order to study the therapeutic time window of dimethylaminoethyl ginkgolide B mesylate(XQ-1H) in the permanent focal ischemia of rat,we used the rat model of the permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).Doses of 15.6,7.8 and 3.9 mg/kg of XQ-1 H were intravenously administered at 0.5,1,2,3 h after MCAO,respectively.Neurological scores,infarct sizes,water contents and pathological changes in each interval were determined at 72 h after MCAO.It was observed that XQ-1 H administered at 0.5 and 1 h after MCAO significantly reduced the cerebral infarct size and edema,and produced significant reductions in the neurological deficits.The protective effect of XQ-1H on the neuron cells was proved by pathological observations.In addition,the contents of MDA,lactate,and the activities of SOD were measured.Reduction in the contents of MDA and lactate and enhancement in the activities of SOD were attributed to the pretreatment of XQ-1H at 0.5 and 1 h.Our results showed that the therapeutic time window of XQ-1H extended for up to 1 h after MCAO.

Objective This objective of the study was to analyze the factors related to being recaptured and condom use among low-fee female sex workers (FSWs) to provide reference in developing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) intervention strategy. Methods Physical examination certificates were designed by Zhongshan County Center for Disease Control and Prevention to record HIV and syphilis test results for low-fee FSWs from 2013 to 2015. Low-fee FSWs were asked to show physical examination certificates in the next intervention and test. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with being captured with physical examination certificates. Generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze factors associated with condom use with clients. Results A total of 220 low-fee FSWs were recruited by using physical examination certificates and received 389 interviews from 2013 to 2015. The proportions of HIV positive and syphilis positive were 4.2% (9/213) and 30.0% (64/213) respectively among those who had HIV and syphilis test. Results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that low-fee FSWs who had been FSWs for more than 4 years (OR=2.95, 95% CI：1.35-6.45), and worked in the local county in the past 30 days (OR=11.74, 95% CI: 5.26-26.20), were more likely to be captured with physical examination certificates. Results of generalized linear mixed model showed that those who were captured at least once (OR=3.33, 95% CI: 1.34-8.27), had junior middle school education and above (OR=22.79, 95% CI: 3.75-138.57), had high HIV knowledge (OR=3.57, 95% CI: 1.52-8.38), and charged more than 30 yuan for vaginal sex (OR=30.68, 95% CI: 12.57-74.90), were more likely to use condom consistently. Conclusions Physical examination certificates could be used for low-fee FSWs surveillance and intervention and tracking their HIV and syphilis status. The intervention strategy should take these into consideration.

Objective To investigate clinical characteristics of refractory systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis(JIA)and the efficiency of glucocorticoid in therapy on this kind of disease.Methods Thirty-nine children with systemic JIA were divided into low dose group 0.5-1.0 mg/(kg?d)and high dose group 1.0-1.5 mg/(kg?d).And the efficiency was observed by change of active index after 10 and 20 days.Results The effective power was 58.8% and 72.7% after 10 days,respectively.After 20 days,the power was 76.5% and 90.9%,respectively.The power in high dose group was significantly higher than that in low dose group.It had no difference in statistical analysis for efficiency of 2 kind of glucocorticoid dosage to control fever,but it had obvious difference to control arthralgia,arthrocele,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP).Conclusion Glucocorticoid therapy is very effective to control the activity of disease in patients with systemic JIA.

To study the metabolism of trans-resveratrol-3-O-glucoside (TRG) in vitro in rat tissues, the incubation with cell-free extracts from rat stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and liver was performed, separately. After TRG was incubated with the tissue extracts at 37 degrees C for up to 90 min, the deglycosylation of TRG was (3.50 +/- 0.24) % for stomach, (65.7 +/- 5.94)% for duodenum, (83.5 +/- 6.43)% for jejunum, (77.6 +/- 6.26)% for ileum and (9.62 +/- 1.21)% for liver, separately. It was observed that the small intestine extracts were more active in deglycosylation of TRG than the liver extract, which suggested that the small intestine mucosa played an important role in deglycosylation of TRG. It was assumed that the deglycosylation of TRG was catalyzed by beta-glucosidase in small intestine mucosa.
Animals ; Duodenum ; metabolism ; Female ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Ileum ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stilbenes ; metabolism ; Stomach ; metabolism

AIMTo determine whether activation of kappa-opioid receptor with U50,488H, a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, produces any changes in electrical uncoupling during prolonged ischemia and whether these changes in electrical uncoupling is associated with the cardioprotection induced by kappa-opioid receptor activation, and to explore the possible mechanism.

METHODS(1) To observe the effect of U50,488H (10(-7), 10(-6), 3 x10(-6) and 10(-5) mol/L), a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, or with a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-BNI (5 x 10(-6) mol/L), or with a mitochondrial K(ATP) channel inhibitor 5-HD on myocardium during ischemia/reperfusion in isolated perfused rat heart. Parameters of measurements include hemodynamic data, formazan content, heart rate, coronary flow, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). (2) To examine the effect of U50,488H of different concentration on electrical coupling parameters (including onset of uncoupling, plateau time, slope, and fold increase in r1) during 70 min myocardial ischemia in isolated perfused rat heart.

RESULTS(1) Pretreatment with U50,488H concentration dependently increased formazan content and reduced LDH release induced by 30 min of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. (2) The onset of electrical uncoupling and plateau time during prolonged ischemia was delayed by kappa-opioid receptor activation with U50,488H. (3) Linear regression analysis shown that the increase in formazan content and decrease in LDH release produced by kappa-opioid receptor activation was associated with delayed electrical uncoupling during prolonged ischemia. (4) The effects of U50,488H on formazan content, LDH release and on electrical coupling were abolished by nor-BNI, or 5-HD.

CONCLUSIONThis results demonstrate that the onset of electrical uncoupling during prolonged ischemia is delayed by kappa-opioid receptor activation with a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50,488H, and that delayed electrical uncoupling is associated with the cardioprotection induced by kappa-opioid receptor activation with U50,488H. These effects of kappa-opioid receptor activation with U50,488H are mediated by mitochondrial K(ATP) channels.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Naltrexone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Opioid, kappa ; agonists

OBJECTIVETo explore the influences of anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody (mAb) B6H12 on the differentiation and function of cultured dendritic cells (DCs).

METHODSHuman peripheral monocyte derived DCs were propagated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the presence or absence of soluble B6H12. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the immunophenotypes of cells, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA methods to analyse the mRNA and protein expression levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12). The antigen-presenting function of DCs was determined in one-way mixed leukocyte reaction by Brdu-ELISA technique.

RESULTSThere was a high expression rate (94% approximately 98%) of CD47 molecules in DCs. The cell immunophenotypes in B6H12 mAb treated and untreated DC groups were as follows: CD80(+) (68.14 +/- 7.41)% vs (89.17 +/- 8.59)%; CD86(+) (67.33 +/- 4.71)% vs (87.27 +/- 3.56)%; CD83 (40.08 +/- 14.80)% vs (72.77 +/- 8.68)%; CD1a(+) (66.45 +/- 4.06)% vs (95.93 +/- 3.03)%; and HLA-DR (40.67 +/- 13.48) vs (98.97 +/- 1.01)%, respectively. The expression levels of mRNA and protein of IL-12 were strongly inhibited in B6H12 mAb treated DC (P < 0.01). The quantity of Brdu was also lower in B6H12 mAb treated DC than that in untreated DCs (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe anti-CD47 McAb exerts a negative effect on the maturation and functions of cultured DCs.

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD1 ; analysis ; B7-2 Antigen ; analysis ; CD47 Antigen ; analysis ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; analysis ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction