OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of integrative medicine (IM) rehabilitation protocolon motor function, activity of daily living, and quality of life (QOL) in hemiplegia patients after stroke.

METHODSTotally 120 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were allocated to four groups using sealed envalope drawing, i.e., the rehabilitation group, the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the comprehensive rehabilitation group, 30 cases in each group. Based on routine rehabilitative training, patients in the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the compre-hensive rehabilitation group received standardized treatment based on syndrome typing, Shi's Consciousness-Restoring Resuscitation acupuncture, Chinese herbs + acupuncture comprehensive rehabilitatino protocol, respectively. The treatmet cycle consisted of 4 weeks with 24-week follow-ups. Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale(SS-QQL), and safety assessment were taken as main effect indices before treatment, at week 4 of treatment, at week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in FMA score, MBI score, SS-QOL score among the four groups before treatment (P > 0.05). These scores were significantly improved in the four groups at week 4 of treatment, week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively (P < 0.05). Besides, FMA score and SS-QOL score were significantly improved in the comprehensive rehabilitation group at each corresponding time point, as compared with other treatment groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe comprehensive protocol could significantly improve motor function, activity of daily living in hemiplegia patients after stroke, and further improve their QOL. Its effect was better than other single treatment.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Hemiplegia ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Motor Skills ; Quality of Life ; Stroke Rehabilitation ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the activities of serum peroxidase capacity,and lipid peroxidation of children from Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) areas of Xinghai county in Qinhai province,and to explore the relationship between antioxidant capacity and KBD.Methods Sixty four KBD and forty six health subjects without KBD were chosen from KBD endemic areas,which included primary schools of Tangnaihai,Xialujuan and Qushian of Xinghai county in Qinghai province,and fifty nine age-matched healthy control subjects without KBD were from a non-KBD endemic area,Nanfan primary school of Chang'an county in Shaanxi province.Twenty patients with KBD and twenty control subjects from KBD areas and non-KBD area were extracted by simple random sampling method.2,3-DAN fluorescence technique was used to test the hair and blood selenium.The biochemical techniques were used to test the indicators of oxidative stress including malondialdehyde(MDA),antioxidant enzyme activities,total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),serum superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT) and glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx).ResultsAll patients with KBD had significantly lower serum GSH-Px activities[ (59.53 ± 25.23)kU/L] and selenium levels in hair[ (67.64 ± 17.28)μg/L] and blood[(36.27 ± 13.29)μg/L],respectively,than that of control subjects from KBD areas [ ( 91.88 ± 22.99 ) kU/L,( 153.32 ± 24.31 ) μg/L,( 63.06 ± 13.66) μg/L ] and nonKBD areas[ ( 122.68 ± 41.74)kU/L,(242.35 ± 38.56)μg/L,(98.93 ± 17.18)μg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].Serum MDA levels in KBD patients[ (4.64 ± 1.11 )μmol/L] were significantly higher than that in control subjects from KBD [(3.31 ± 1.22)μmol/L] and non-KBD areas[ (3.43 ± 1.29)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].On the other hand,T-AOC,SOD and CAT activities were significantly higher in both KBD[(19.80 ± 6.64),(55.80 ± 8.14),(16.45 ± 5.61 ) kU/L] and control subjects[ (21.71 ± 8.82),(57.45 ± 6.96),(15.63 ± 9.18)kU/L] from KBD areas than that of control subjects from non-KBD area[ (13.56 ± 5.38),(42.79 ± 8.10),(6.05 ± 2.71 )kU/L,all P ＜ 0.05 ].Hair selenium levels,blood selenium levels and GSH-Px activity of control subjects from KBD areas were,respectively,significantly lower than that in control subjects from non-KBD area(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions These findings strongly confirm the evidence that KBD patients are susceptible to oxidative stress.The results also show the increase in antioxidant enzymes,which could probably be due to adaptive response to pro-oxidant in KBD state.Hence,there seems to be an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant systems in KBD patients.

To investigate the role and mechanism of ceramide (Cer) regulation in alcohol-induced neuronal proliferation and the newborn neurons formation, we used sphingomyelin synthase 2 (predominant enzyme of Cer metabolism) knockout (SMS2(-/-)) and wild type (WT) female mice to establish the model of prenatal alcohol exposure. In 24 h after being given birth (postnatal day 0, P0), the offspring of model mice received blood sphingomyelin (SM) measurement with enzymatic method. On P0, P7, P14 and P30, the proliferation of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and newborn neurons were investigated with immunofluorescent labeling. The expression of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) in the hippocampus was tested with Western blot analysis. The results showed that the SM level of blood in SMS2(-/-) pups was significantly lower than that in WT pups. No matter in SMS2(-/-) or WT mice, the prenatal alcohol exposure down-regulated the SM levels in pups with dose-dependency. In both SMS2(-/-) and WT pups, the number of proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus gradually decreased with the growing age. Compared with the WT pups, SMS2(-/-) pups showed significantly more proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus. Notably, prenatal alcohol exposure dose-dependently increased proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus in both WT and SMS2(-/-) pups. The hippocampal expression of PKCα protein in SMS2(-/-) mice was lower than that in WT mice, and prenatal alcohol exposure could up-regulate the PKCα protein expression in both WT and SMS2(-/-) mice with dose dependency. These results suggest that alcohol exposure during pregnancy can induce the compensatory neural cell proliferation and the production of newborn neurons in offspring, and the Cer-ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) pathway is involved in alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation. The activation of PKCα may be a key step to start the Cer-C1P pathway and up-regulate the alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation and the newborn neurons formation.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; physiopathology ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical characteristics of gastric cancer between young and elderly patients,and bring forward corresponding countermeasures.

METHODSClinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis between 79 young (or= 65 years old) patients were compared.

RESULTSThe constituent ratio of gender between young and elderly group was not significantly different (P=0.226). There was no particularity of early symptom in young patients, but they had shorter course of disease (165 d vs 400 d, P=0.029) and more frequent inferior part of cancer (49.4% vs 41.7%, P=0.038) as compared to elderly patients. There was significant difference between two groups in pathological stage ratio (P=0.027). The median total survival time of young and elderly patients was 1006 d and 530 d respectively, which was not significantly different (P=0.108). Furthermore, median survival time of young and elderly patients after radical resection were 1197 d and 919 d respectively, and the difference was not significant as well (P=0.242).

CONCLUSIONSCharacteristics of young patients with gastric cancer are lower incidence, larvaceous symptoms, more malignancy and quick development, which still remain general features of gastric cancer. By correct therapy, the efficacy of above young patients is similar to elderly patients. The key to improve prognosis is to further fortify cognition for gastric cancer and elevate early diagnostic rate.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Carcinoid Tumor ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Survival Rate

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Guidelines as Topic ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans

Apoptosis ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Curcumin ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; MicroRNAs ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

Aqueous dispersion and stability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles remain an issue unresolved since aggregation of naked iron nanoparticles in water. In this study, we successfully synthesized different Fe3O4 super-paramagnetic nanoparticles which were modified by three kinds of materials [DSPE-MPEG2000, TiO2 and poly acrylic acid (PAA)] and further detected their characteristics. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly showed sizes and morphology of the four kinds of nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) proved successfully coating of the three kinds of nanoparticles and their structures were maintained. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) verified that their magnetic properties fitted for the super-paramagnetic function. More importantly, the particle size analysis indicated that Fe3O4@PAA had a better size distribution, biocompatibility, stability and dispersion than the other two kinds of nanoparticles. In addition, using CNE2 cells as a model, we found that all nanoparticles were nontoxic. Taken together, our data suggest that Fe3O4@PAA nanoaparticles are superior in the application of biomedical field among the four kinds of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the future.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of two different types of digestive tract reconstruction on the life quality, nutritional status and tolerance to adjuvant chemotherapy after total gastrectomy in patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODSThe clinical data of a total of 107 patients treated in our department from January 2005 to december 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 49 patients underwent digestive tract reconstruction with functional jejunal interposition (FJI group) and 58 patients underwent Roux en-Y jejunal P-type anastomosis (PR group) after total gastrectomy. 79 of 107 (73.8%) patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with XELOX regimen. The digestive complications and tolerance to chemotherapy were assessed respectively.

RESULTSNeither severe complications nor surgery-related or chemotherapy-related death were observed among the 107 patients. There were statistical differences in the incidence rate of emaciation, dumping syndrome and retention syndrome between the FJI and PR groups (P < 0.05), but no significant statistical difference in incidence rate of reflux esophagitis (P > 0.05). 28 of 40 (70.0%) patients in the FJI group completed all six cycles of chemotherapy, while 12 (30.0%) patients interrupted the treatment due to chemotherapy-related toxicity. 39 patients in the PR group received chemotherapy, 19 (48.7%) of them completed 6 cycles of chemotherapy but 20 (51.3%) patients interrupted. There was a significant difference in the incidence rate of grade III/IV chemotherapeutic toxicity and completion rate of chemotherapy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth functional jejunal interposition and Roux-Y operation are reasonable and safe procedures of digestive tract reconstruction. The incidence rates of emaciation, dumping syndrome and retention syndrome are lower in the patients with FJI, showing a better tolerance to adjuvant chemotherapy than Roux en-Y jejunal p type anastomosis.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; methods ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Jejunum ; surgery ; Nutritional Status ; Postoperative Period ; Quality of Life ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEAlthough surgery is the only possible means to cure gastric cancer, the prognosis is often discrepant. The American Joint Committee on Cancer / International Union against Cancer (AJCC/UICC) published the TNM classification of Malignant Tumors (seventh edition) for gastric cancer recently. This study aimed to use this new edition staging system to investigate the prognostic factors for gastric cancer.

METHODSThe clinicopathologic data of 980 patients with gastric cancer treated by surgical resection in our hospital between January 2000 and December 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. The overall survival rate was determined by using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test was used to determine significance. The prognosis was analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model. The 6th and 7th edition AJCC/UICC TNM staging systems were used to compare the survival outcomes for the cohort of patients.

RESULTSThe overall 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates for the whole group were 82.5%, 58.7%, and 52.6%. The 5-year survival rates for patients with pTNM stage I, II, III, and IV disease classified by the 7th edition staging system were 93.2%, 72.4%, 39.1%, and 5.2%, respectively. In both univariate analysis and Cox multivariate analysis, age, tumor site, tumor size, histological type, resection type, radical resection, lymphatic/venous invasion, depth of invasion, nodal status, metastasis, retrieved lymph nodes, metastatic lymph node ratio, and adjuvant chemotherapy were prognostic factors with these patients.

CONCLUSIONCompared with the 6th edition system, the new edition of TNM staging system for gastric cancer can accurately predict the survival after operation.

Adenocarcinoma ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; standards ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEColorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant cancers in the world. Although the clinicopathologic staging is the golden criterion for the prognosis at present, the optimum prognostic criteria for colorectal cancer should be a combination of the clinicopathologic staging and the molecular markers. However, there are currently no molecular markers available for the prognosis of colorectal cancer. Several tumor-suppressor genes associated with colorectal cancer have been mapped at the 18q21-23 region. In this study we detected the frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 18q and investigated the relationship between LOH and clinicopathologic features and its prognostic value for patients with stage II colon cancer.

METHODSA total of 106 samples of tumor tissues and corresponding normal mucosa from patients with sporadic stage-II colon cancer were included in this study. All the samples were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. DNA was extracted from tumor tissues and LOH of D18S474, D18S55, D18S58, D18S61 and D18S64 at chromosome 18q was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing method. Multivariate analysis for association between LOH and prognosis in colon cancer patients was performed with Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 68 months. For 106 patients, 5-year survival rate was 83.6%, which was associated with age and gross tumor type (P = 0.011 and 0.034, respectively). Among 102 patients who were eligible for LOH information, the overall frequency of LOH is 49.0% (50/102), and that of LOH at 5 microsatellite loci of D18S474, D18S55, D18S58, D18S61, and D18S64 was 30.2% (26/86), 23.4% (18/77), 28.6% (20/70), 35.0% (28/80), and 20.8%(15/72), respectively. The occurrence of LOH was significantly associated with tumor location and histopathologic grade (P = 0.023, 0.016 and 0.005, respectively). LOH was more frequent on the left-side, poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma, and nonmucinous colon cancers. The occurrence of 18q-LOH was significantly associated with 5-year overall survival rate and disease free survival rate (P = 0.008 and 0.006, respectively). The occurrence of 18q-LOH at the loci of D18S474 and D18S61 was significantly associated with 5-year overall survival rate (P = 0.010 and 0.005, respectively). The multivariate analysis showed that only the occurrence of 18q-LOH was significantly associated with prognosis (P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONSThere is a high occurrence of LOH at the loci of 18q. The expression of LOH is significantly associated with tumor location and histopathologic grade. The occurrence of 18q-LOH is an independent poor prognostic factor for the patients with stage-II colon cancer.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult