Objective: To evaluate the prognostic factors of patients with stage Ⅳ gastric cancer. Meth-ods: A total of 138 patients with stage Ⅳ gastric cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were ana-lyzed. Survival rate was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic factors were analyzed by univari-ate (Log rank) and multivariate (Cox model) analysis methods. Results: Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that poor performance status (P=0.001), weight loss (P=0.001), depth of invasion (P=0.000), presence of peritoneal metastasis (P=0.005), more than 1 metastatic site (P=0.029) and elevated total biliru-bin (P=0.018) were independent prognostic factors. According to the outcomes of the Cox model analysis, a formula of the prognostic index was developed. According to the values of PI, 16 patients were categorized as the high-risk group (PI≤9.817), 28 patients were categorized as the moderate-risk group (9.817

Objective To assess the effect of fructose sodium diphosphate and alpha-lipoic acid on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods Sixty-six patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were randomly divided into two groups, additional to the regular treatment to control blood glucose, 34 patients in the treatment grouptreated with fructse sodium diphosphate 10 g and alpha-lipoic acid 0.45 g daily through intravenous drip for two weeks (3 patients dropped out due to un-tolerance), 32 patients in the control group treated with alpha-lipoic acid 0.45 g dai-ly through intravenous drip for two weeks. All patients were examined on the improvement of symptoms, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve and nervus peroneus communis before and after the treatment. Results After treatment for two weeks, the overall effect rate in the treatment group was 93.55 % (28/31), which was significantly higher than that in the control group(68.75%,22/32) (P < 0.05). In the treatment group, the motor nerve conduction velocity for the median nerve and nervus peroneus communis was 47.7 (SD:3.8) m/s and 41.6 (SD: 3.3) m/s after treatment, which was significantly higher than that before treatment (42.5 [SD:2.5] and 36.0[SD:2.8] m/s,respectively) (P <0.05). In the control group, the motor nerve conduction velocity for the median nerve and nervus peroneus communis was 43.4 (SD: 2.0) m/s and 39.6 (SD: 3.3) m/s after treat-ment, which was significantly higher than that before treatment (41.9 [SD16.0] and 36.2 [SD: 1.9] m/s, respec-tively) (P < 0.05). In the treatment group,the sensory nerve conduction velocity for the median nerve and nervus peroneus communis was 40.3 (SD: 1.8) m/s and 34.1 (SD: 2.3) m/s after treatment, which was significantly higher than that before treatment (35.2 [SD:2.3] and 28.8 [SD:2.5] m/s,rospectively) (P <0.05). In the control group,the sensory nerve conduction velocity for the median nerve and nervus peroneus communis was 37.7 (SD:1.7) m/s and 30.8 (SD:2.6) m/s after treatment,which was significantly higher than that before treatment (34.8 [SD :3.1] and 27.8 [SD :2.4] m/s, respectively) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the improvements in the treat-ment group was significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusions Fructse sodium si-phosphate combined with alpha-lipoic acid is more effective to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy than alpha-lipoic acid only.

Objective To clone acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) gene and analyze the sequences of the nucleotides and encoded amino acids. Methods Total RNA was isolated from the stomach of BALB/c mouse and the mRNA was reversely transcribed into cDNA. AMCase gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and inserted into recombinant clone vector of pMD18-T. Sequence alignment was performed with DNAMAN 4.0 software. Isoelectric point, amino acid composition, signal peptide and transmembrane helices were analyzed with SignalP 3.0 Server and TMHMM Server v.2.0. Results The cloned gene encodes a protein of 473 amino acids with molecular weight of 51.93 kDa and isoelectric point 4.73. Extensive amino acid sequence homology (up to 99.57%) was found when compared with AMCase. Both protein encoded by this cloned gene and AMCase belonged to family 18 chitinase, which was composed of signal peptide (amino acid position 1-21), the catalytic domain (amino acid position 22-391), hinge region (amino acid position 392-425) and chitin binding domain (amino acid position 426-473). There were two mutations of amino acid in the catalytic domain and hinge region with this AMCase mutant. The amino acid of Ala(position 292)was mutated into amino acid of Pro, and the amino acid of Thr(position 404)was mutated into amino acid of Ser. Conclusion This sequence is a mutant of AMCase gene. Identification of the biological characteristics will play important role in the further study of its biological function by molecular biology technique.

The effects of exopolysaccharides from Aphanothece halophytica(.EAH) on immunological function were studied by immunological techniques. The results showed that EAH could not only enhance the mitogenic response of mice's thymus cells, murine bone marrow cells proliferation,murine mixed lymphocyte reaction and the activity of NK cells in mice,but promote the interleukinl(IL-1)production and increase the activity of 1L-2 as well. The study suggests that EAH can improve the immunological function of mice.

Objective: To study the mechanism of safflower injection(红花注射液) on preventing thrombosis after arteriovenous fistula operation in rabbits.Method: Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: safflower injection group,heparin group and control group(each n=8).Rabbit femoral arteryvein side-to-side anastomosis models were performed on both sides of the lower extremities and they were coincided.Safflower injection(5 mg/kg) or heparin injection(6 U/kg) was given from ear edge vein immediately after operation in the respective group,while normal saline(0.9%) was given with the same fashion in the control group,once per day for 14 days.On the 1 st,3 rd,7 th and 15 th day after operation,the nitric oxide(NO) in serum and endothelin(ET) in plasma were determined respectively.Results: The plasma ET contents were significantly lowered in safflower and heparin groups compared with that of control group(both P

FLIP is a protein containing death domain.Human beings have three subtypes of c-FLIPL,c-FLIPs and c-FLIPR,which can inhibit the apoptosis of a variety of tumor cells.c-FLIPL plays a dual role in the apoptotic signal.The expression level of FLIP not only decides the opening and closing of the apoptosis pathway but also achieve the conversion of cells in the apeptotic signaling and proliferative signaling pathway.The regulation of FLIP's expression is a multi-layered,involving multiple signaling pathways.FLIP will probably become an attractive death receptor signaling target of therapy.

Objective To investigate the satisfaction degree of family members of children patients with the quality of nursing by follow-up analysis using telephone.Methods We used the high quality nursing questionnaire as the follow-up investigation.311 parents of the discharged pediatric patients were enrolled in this study,and answered the questionnaire within 1 ～2 weeks after their children were discharged from hospital.Meanwhile,we collected specific comments through asking questions by telephone.Then we analyzed and summarized the results by the content analysis.Results We found the total satisfaction rate was 96.65％ and there were three levels after qualitative analysis on the specific recommendations:evaluation of the hospital system,evaluation of professional knowledge and skills of the medical workers,evaluation of the attitude of the medical workers.Conclusions The parents of pediatric patients are satisfied with the high quality nursing which has pediatric features.However,what the parents focused on had already beyond the scope of the high quality nursing itself.We should expand the concept of quality service to every aspect of the hospital work,in order to meet the needs of the parents of pediatric patients in the department of pediatrics.

BACKGROUND: The conical telescopic crown denture has a better long-term effect on dentition defects of few remaining teeth than the traditional removable denture. However, there are few studies to analyze the application of these two kinds of repair methods using the finite element method. OBJECTIVE: To compare the stress distribution of the isolated abutment tooth repaired using the conical telescopic crown denture and traditional removable denture. METHODS: Two-dimensional images of the mandible and dentition in healthy adults were scanned by CT. Three-dimensional finite element models of conical telescopic crown denture and traditional removable denture were established in the mandible only with the bilateral canines. Under the same vertical and oblique loadings, the maximum equivalent stress of the abutment, periodontal membrane or edentulous alveolar ridge was compared between two repair methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Under the vertical and oblique loadings, the total stress of abutment and periodontal membrane in the traditional removable denture was higher than that in the conical telescopic crown denture and the stress in the corresponding ring was concentrated obviously; the total stress of edentulous alveolar ridge in the conical telescopic crown denture was slightly larger than that in the traditional removable denture, but the stress was wel -distributed and concentrated in a smal area. Under the oblique loading, the total stress of abutment, periodontal membrane and edentulous alveolar ridge was higher than that under the vertical loading in these two dentures, and the stress was concentrated in the periodontal membrane of lingual neck, but the total stress in the traditional removable denture was larger, with a wider concentration range. These findings indicate that the stress on the supporting tissue of conical telescopic crown denture is more evenly distributed within a smal er range than that of traditional removable denture, and the former is more fit for the health of abutment, periodontal tissues and edentulous alveolar ridge.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate biphasic ceramic bone has good cel compatibility, but its mechanical properties are poor. OBJECTIVE: To construct chitosan/ or calcium alginate/biphasic ceramic bone scaffolds and to detect their mechanical properties and cytocompatibility. METHODS: Different concentrations of chitosan (2%, 4%, 7%, 10%) or calcium alginate (3%, 4%, 5%, 7%) were mixed with biphasic ceramic bone to prepare chitosan/biphasic ceramic bone scaffold and calcium alginate/biphasic ceramic bone scaffold. Their morphology and structure, coagulation time, anti-dissolution properties, shear force, compressive strength and cel compatibility were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Coagulation time: with the concentration increase, the initial and final setting time of these two kinds of composite scaffolds were prolonged to some extent. (2) Scanning electron microscopy: these two kinds of composite scaffolds showed porous microstructures with different pore sizes. (3) Anti-dissolution properties: the calcium alginate/biphasic ceramic bone scaffold (3%, 4%, 5%, 7%) and chitosan/biphasic ceramic bone scaffold (7%, 10%) had good anti-dissolution properties in the liquid. (4) Mechanical strength: with the concentration increase, the shear force and compressive strength of the calcium alginate/biphasic ceramic bone scaffold were reduced. (5) Cel compatibility: the cytotoxicity of chitosan/ or calcium alginate/biphasic ceramic bone scaffolds was graded as 0-1 or 2-3, respectively. These results show that the chitosan/biphasic ceramic bone scaffold has better mechanical properties and cel compatibility than the calcium alginate/biphasic ceramic bone scaffold.

Objective To develop a sheet to assess infection risks in children with malignant tumors after chemotherapies.Methods A risk assessing sheet (to consult) was designed and used to consult 24 experts from 9 hospitals located in 6 provinces.After 3 rounds of expert consultation,a sheet (to try) was developed and tried by nurses in the clinic.And then a sheet (to use) was developed.Results The authority coefficient of experts was 0.79,the positive coefficient of experts was 1.00 and 0.96.The sheet (to try) developed after 3 rounds of expert consultation consisted of 30 items and was divided into 2 parts,one was about static items and the other was about dynamic items.Depending on the trying of the sheet (to try),the sheet (to use) was constituted by 8 fundamental immune state assessing items and 16 infection risk screening items.Conclusions Experts consulted in the study were quite reliable,representative and positive.The sheet (to use) seemed to have good pertinence and practicability.Further studies should be done to verify whether the sheet (to use) may help nurses to prevent children with malignant tumors from infections after chemotherapies.