Objective To observe the photocoagulation treatment effect of using 532 semiconductor laser in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy .Methods A total of 50 cases(95 eyes) of nonproliferative and proliferative dia betic retinopathy received local retinal photocoagulation ,grid photocoagulation or panretinal photocoagulation treatment carried out by 532 semiconductor laser .We observed visual acuity ,slit lamp biomicroscopy ,intraocular pressure ,oph-thalmoscopy,fundus fluorescence angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).These patients were followed up for 6 months after laser treatment .Results Among the 95 eyes,visual acuity was improved in 36 eyes (37.9%),unchanged in 52 eyes(54.7%) and decreased in 7 eyes(7.4%).Among the 26 eyes with clinical signifi-cant macular edema ( CSME ) , macular edema was resolved completely or partly resolved after photocoagulation . Conclusion Photocoagulation with 532 semiconductor laser in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy was safe and ef-fective.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the protective factors of demoralization in cancer patients via investigation of cancer patients' demographic and disease characteristics. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. We used a structured questionnaire, which contained items on demographic and disease characteristics, as well as the Demoralization Scale Mandarin Version (DS-MV), with a cutoff of 30 or more indicating high demoralization. Data were analyzed with age-matched and gender-matched conditional logistic regression analysis. For the study, 428 questionnaires were delivered and 411 were recovered. After being age-matched and gender-matched, 182 participants of high demoralization (DS-MV > 30) and low demoralization (DS-MV ≤ 30) were obtained respectively, for a total of 364 participants. RESULTS: Cancer patients' demoralization was significantly related to family support (p = .019), education (p = .049), and monthly income (p = .001). Family support [odds ratio = 0.38; p = .028; 95% confidence interval (0.16, 0.91)] and monthly income [odds ratio = 0.49; p = .009; 95% confidence interval (0.29, 0.84)] were protective factors of demoralization in cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Early and appropriate demoralization assessment of cancer patients' demographic and disease characteristics is very important in clinical settings. Healthcare providers might regularly monitor demoralization in cancer patients, and develop related nursing care guidelines or treatment for demoralization in cancer patients. The study results can be a reference for healthcare providers who work with cancer patients.
Education ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Nursing Care ; Odds Ratio ; Protective Factors* ; Taiwan*

The aim of this paper is to apply near infrared spectroscopy techniques to construct a rapid identification method for 8 kinds of mineral Chinese Medicines containing carbonates. The qualitative model using clustering analysis method in OPUS software can identify accurately 8 kinds of carbonate-containing mineral Chinese medicines. The near-infrared quantitative model was established by using partial least squares method (PLS) for 7 mineral Chinese Medicines in which main component is calcium carbonate. Compared with the results by EDTA titration, the established quantitative analysis model for calcium carbonate content showed a good prediction result that when the content is between 47.61% -99.17%, the average relative deviation of the prediction result is 0.24% and the average recovery rate was 100.3%. The results also showed that the model using near infrared spectroscopy can get not only a rapid identification of the 8 mineral Chinese medicines containing carbonates, but also an accurate and reliabe content determination of calcium carbonate for the 7 mineral Chinese medicines which contain the component.
Carbonates ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Minerals ; chemistry ; Software ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; methods ; Time Factors

We investigated the epidemiological characteristics and temporal-spatial clustering of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB),and analyzed its social influence factors in immigration city.Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on PTB cases data extracted from the National Disease Reporting System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention between 2013 and 2015.Kulldorff scan statistics was applied to community based and town-based incidence data by SaTScan 9.1.1.The results were visualized by ArcMap10.2.A total of 12 109 PTB cases were reported in Ningbo with a decreasing trend in incidence rate and an increasing trend in proportion of floating population from 2013 to 2015.The male to female ratio was 2.07 ∶ 1 (8 162/3 947).All age groups were affected by PTB,but the incidence in 15-34 years age group and 65+ years age group were higher.Patients aged between 15 and 54 years accounted for 73.95 ％ of all cases.Most cases were farmers,housekeepers or unemployed,migrants and workers.There were six temporal-spatial clusters,of which the most likely clusters were in downtown and its surrounding areas,and the second likely clusters were in industrial parks.Compared with non cluster areas,proportion of floating population (t =2.88,P=0.01) especially immigrants from other provinces (t=7.46,P =0.00),and population density (t=3.37,P=0.00) in cluster areas were higher,while per capita green area was lower (t =-2.39,P 0.03).The downtown and its surrounding areas,industrial parks could be the future PTB combating regions.High population density and immigrants are associated with PTB clustering.

AIMTo establish a sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (time-of-flight) [LC-MS (TOF)] method for the determination of donepezil in human plasma after an oral administration of 5 mg donepezil hydrochloride tablet.

METHODSAlkalized plasma was extracted with isopropanol-n-hexane (3:97) and loratadine was used as internal standard. Solutes were separated on a C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol-acetate buffer (pH 4.0) (80:20). Detection was performed on a time-of-flight mass spectrometry equipped with an ESI interface and operated in positive-ionization mode. Donepezil quantitation was realized by computing the peak area ratio (donepezil-loratadine) (donepezil m/z 380[M + H]+ and loratadine m/z 383[M + H]+) and comparing them with calibration curve (r = 0.9998).

RESULTSThe linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range of 0.1-15 micrograms.L-1. The detection limit of donepezil was 0.1 microgram.L-1. The average recovery was more than 90%. The intra- and inter-run precision was measured to be below 15% of RSD.

CONCLUSIONThe method is sensitive, simple and rapid, so, it can meet the need of the studies on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of donepezil.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Humans ; Indans ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Piperidines ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective A resistin binding peptide (RBP) was selected by phage display in our previous work. Studies had shown that RBP could antagonize the role of resistin on the lipid metabolism and endocrine function of adipose tissue, but whether RBP affects the insulin secretion of pancreatic cells is still unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of RBP on basal insulin secretion in RINm5F insulinoma cells. Methods The cell viability was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethyhhiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assay. The supernatants were assayed for insulin content by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reverse transcriptase-PCR assay and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) involved in insulin secretion. Cytosolic Ca2+, the trigger of insulin exocytosis, was analyzed with the fluorescent probe FURA-3/AM. Results RBP did no effect on the cell viability with a concentration of 10-8-10-12mol/L of 2 hours intervention. But it stimulated basal insulin secretion of RINm5F cells, accompanied by up-regulated increased expression of GLUT2 and elevated concentration of cytosolic Ca2+. Conclusion RBP could stimulate basal insulin secretion without affecting the cell viability.

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with TDP radiation and western medicine on restless legs syndrome.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-eight cases of restless legs syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 79 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Zhibian (BL 54), Taixi (KI 3), etc., and TDP radiation. The control group were treated with L-Dopa. Clinical observation was made for 30 days.

RESULTSIn the observation group, 42 cases were cured, 30 cases were effective and 7 cases were ineffective with a total effective rate of 91.1%; in the control group no case was cured, 24 cases were effective and 55 cases were ineffective with a total effective rate of 30.4%, with a significant difference between the two groups in the total effective rate.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with TDP radiation has a better therapeutic effect on restless legs syndrome.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; etiology ; therapy

BACKGROUNDThe increased incidence of pyogenic liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.pneumoniae) was reported in the recent literature. This study was conducted retrospectively to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients.

METHODSMicrobiological and medical databases of a medical center were searched from January 2000 to June 2003. Eighty-four patients with liver abscess caused by K.pneumoniae were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the 84 patients, 52 men and 32 women aged (58.2 +/- 13.3) years on average, 64.4% had concomitant diabetes mellitus and 23.8% had biliary disease. The most common clinical symptoms were fever (98.8%), chills (69.0%) and abdominal pain (58.3%). 85.7% of the 84 patients received catheter drainage for the abscess. The length of hospital stay was (17.4 +/- 8.7) days. The mortality rate was 7.1%. Older age and presence of biliary disease were associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONSThe low mortality of our patients was probably related to the high proportion of patients who received catheter drainage. Older age and presence of biliary disease were associated with the mortality.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Klebsiella Infections ; complications ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Purpose: Some patients with respiratory failure fail initial weaning attempts and need prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). Prolonged MV is associated with many complications and consumption of heathcare resources. Objective weaning indices help staffs to identify high-potential patients for weaning from the MV. Traditional weaning indices are not reliable in clinical practice. Transitional percentage of minute volume (TMV%) is a new index of the work of breathing. This study aimed to investigate the utility of TMV% in the prediction of weaning potential. Methods: This study was prospectively performed including all patients with prolonged MV. Researchers recorded their demographics, TMV%, respiratory parameters, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and laboratory data upon arrival at the respiratory care center. The factors associated with successful weaning were analyzed. Results: Out of the 120 patients included, 84 (70.0%) were successfully weaned from MV. Traditional weaning indices such as rapid shallow breathing index could not predict the weaning outcome. TMV% was a valuable parameter as patients with a lower TMV%, higher tidal volume, higher hemoglobin, lower blood urea nitrogen, and lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores had a higher rate of successful weaning. TMV%, tidal volume, and HCO3- levels were independent predictors of successful weaning, and the area under the curve was .79 in the logistic regression model. Conclusion TMV% is a novel and effective predictor of successful weaning. Patients with lower TMV% had a higher MV weaning outcome. Once patients with a high potential for successful weaning are identified, they should be aggressively weaned from MV as soon as possible.

Purpose: Some patients with respiratory failure fail initial weaning attempts and need prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). Prolonged MV is associated with many complications and consumption of heathcare resources. Objective weaning indices help staffs to identify high-potential patients for weaning from the MV. Traditional weaning indices are not reliable in clinical practice. Transitional percentage of minute volume (TMV%) is a new index of the work of breathing. This study aimed to investigate the utility of TMV% in the prediction of weaning potential. Methods: This study was prospectively performed including all patients with prolonged MV. Researchers recorded their demographics, TMV%, respiratory parameters, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and laboratory data upon arrival at the respiratory care center. The factors associated with successful weaning were analyzed. Results: Out of the 120 patients included, 84 (70.0%) were successfully weaned from MV. Traditional weaning indices such as rapid shallow breathing index could not predict the weaning outcome. TMV% was a valuable parameter as patients with a lower TMV%, higher tidal volume, higher hemoglobin, lower blood urea nitrogen, and lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores had a higher rate of successful weaning. TMV%, tidal volume, and HCO3- levels were independent predictors of successful weaning, and the area under the curve was .79 in the logistic regression model. Conclusion TMV% is a novel and effective predictor of successful weaning. Patients with lower TMV% had a higher MV weaning outcome. Once patients with a high potential for successful weaning are identified, they should be aggressively weaned from MV as soon as possible.