Objective To analyze the cost-effectiveness of integrated pharmaceutical care (IPC) in community-based patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods The COPD patients were divided randomly into intervention group (group A,n =79) and control group (group B,n =71).Group A received the IPC intervention measures,including serial lectures of pharmaceutical knowledge,home supervision and web-based communications for while group B group had none.Results As compared with group B,group A obviously improved on the knowledge of pharmaceutical treatment effect and side effect (95.1％,67.4％ vs.63.1％,21.9％,x2 =12.445,P=0.000 vs.x2 =55.557,P=0.000).There were notable differences between two groups [ ( 1.77 ± 1.23 ) vs.( 2.42 ± 1.66 ) s,t =2.583,P=0.011],pulmonary rales [ (0.01 vs.0.01)s,Z =2.370,P=0.018],6-min walk distance (6 MWD) [ (457 ± 67 ) vs.(425 ± 72) m,t =2.760,P =0.007 ],vital capacity ( VC ) [ ( 1.60 ± 0.25 ) vs.( 1.49 ± 0.23 ) L,t =2.718,P =0.007 ) ] andquality-of-life items ( 48 ± 10 vs.52 ± 11,t =2.624,P =0.010) after intervention.Analyze of cost-effectiveness show that groupA was superior to group B [ total effect total cost(TE/TC =764.6/4936,15.49％ )vs.(TE/TC =1509.4/4708),32.06％,x2 =6.183,P ＜ 0.01 ].Conclusion IPC can improve the disease condition and achieve excellent cost-effectiveness for community-based COPD patients.

Drug reservation wag investigated in 2077 community residents.We found that most drugs were obtained from the hospitals(83.78%),kept at a relatively lower place(69.23%),packed in box(75.25%),and did not meet the storage requirement(72.60%).Half of the overdue drugs(median time,12 months)were used for internal treatment.This study suggests that there might be unsafe drug storage in communities.

Objective To search for a preferred method for vein blood collection in infants which has the following merits: high success rate, high efficiency, and can be accepted easily by parents. Methods 361 infants which received vein blood collection in out-patient were divided into two groups randomly, the experimental group(181 cases) with elbow vein blood collection, the control group(180 cases) with femoral vein puncture. The one-time success rate, average duration and the satisfaction degree of parents were compared between the two groups. Results The one-time success rate in the two groups was different, there was statistically significant difference(X2 = 20.58, P ＜ 0. 05). the same result to average duration (t = 2. 03, P ＜0. 05) and to the satisfaction degree of parents(X2 =21.66,P＜0. 05). Conclusions The method of elbow vein blood collection is a good and feasible way for infant blood collecting, it is worthy of being widely spreaded in the clinic.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) on serum leptin concentration and the metabolic parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSSerum leptin levels and true insulin (TI) levels were measured before and after one night nCPAP therapy in 18 patients. Eight patients received regular nCPAP treatment and had no change of body weight (BMI change < or = 1.5 kg/m2 from baseline) were recruited to the reassessment study 7.5 months after therapy.

RESULTSAfter one night use of nCPAP, there was a significant decrease in serum leptin [(8.47 +/- 0.62) microg/L vs (7.32 +/- 0.64) microg/L, P = 0.022] without change in other parameters. After 7.5 months of nCPAP treatment, serum leptin levels continued to decrease significantly without changes in BMI [(8.35 +/- 0.83) microg/L vs (6.05 +/- 0.78) microg/L; P = 0.036), and fast blood glucose (FBG) and true insulin (TI) also decreased significantly (P = 0.036) in OSAHS patients. However, triglyceral (TG) and cholesterol (Chol) maintained the pretreatment level (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOSAHS may have significant effects on the serum leptin levels and the correction of sleep disordered breathing by nCPAP can reduce the serum leptin levels. Decrease of leptin was independent of BMI change. The glucose metabolic disturbance and insulin resistance in OSAHS were improved after 7.5 months of nCPAP treatment.

Adult ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the susceptibility gene of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through a novel strategy.

METHODSFirstly, the common feature of the putative susceptibility genes in the reported susceptibility loci was searched by using NCBI BLAST, and a functional L1 retrotransposon in the loci was found. Secondly, the mRNA expression level of the functional L1 retrotransposon in 25 Han T2DM patients and 22 normal controls was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and statistical analysis was implemented in statistical package SPSS10.0. Thirdly, L1 retrotransponson genome mutation screening was performed via sequencing.

RESULTSScreening the human genome for the retrotransposon genome via alignment with the L1 genome using NCBI BLAST showed the functional L1 retrotransposons distribute on most chromosomes except for chromosomes 19, 21 and Y on which rare type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci were reported to reside, and their distribution sites are consistent with the locations of the reported candidate type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci. The mRNA expression level of the functional L1 retrotransposon in the T2DM patients was significantly lower than that in normal subjects (P<0.001). Nonsense mutations including deletion and/or point mutations were observed in all of the 6 T2DM patients tested, but no mutation was observed in all of the 4 normal controls tested.

CONCLUSIONThe functional L1 retrotransposon may be a candidate susceptibility gene of type 2 diabetes or a key regulator of the susceptibility genes, and it may be an ideal candidate biomarker for screening type 2 diabetes.

Adult ; Chromosomes, Human ; genetics ; Databases, Genetic ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genome, Human ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retroelements ; genetics

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Immunohistochemistry ; Pericytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo explore the effective therapy for maintenance hemodialysis patients in dificiency syndrome in end-stage renal disease.

METHODSNinety-seven cases were divided into an observation group (51 cases) and a control group (46 cases) randomly, and routine western medicine was used in both of them. On this base, moxibustion was used in Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in paper-tube-moxibustion equipment in the observation group. Evaluate the therapeutic effect on symptoms by comparing the symptom scores in two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSAll the symptom scores in the observation group were improved after treatment, and the differences were significant (all P < 0.05). Among all symptoms, the most improved ones included lassitude and fatigue, short breath and aversion to talk, poor appetite, soreness and softness of waist and knees, aversion to cold, cold extremities and so on. In the aspect of therapeutic effect on symptoms, the total effective rate in observation group (64.7%, 33/51) was higher than that in control group (23.9%, 11/46), and the difference was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion can improve the clinical symptoms of maintenance hemodialysis patients in end-stage renal disease, and can generate some therapeutic effect to the dificiency syndrome of this disease.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Renal Dialysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo get the full length of human METH1 cDNA and express it steadily in mammalian cell stably.

METHODSMETH1 was amplified by RT-PCR, and cloned into pCDNA3.0 after confirmed by sequence analysis. HepG2 cells were transfected by Lipofectamine reagent and then selected in medium with G418. The expression level of METH1 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSMETH1 with expected length was effectively amplified, and completely matched the published sequence of encoding mature peptide [GI:5725505] as shown by sequence analysis. Eukaryotic vector expressing METH1 was obtained by gene cloning, cells expressing METH1 was got by selection with G418 at 3 weeks after transfection. RT-PCR and Western blot showed high level expression of METH1.

CONCLUSIONFull length of human METH1 gene is cloned successfully and expressed in HepG2 steadily, The results set up a basis for the study of effects of METH1 on hypertrophic scar angiogenesis.

ADAM Proteins ; ADAMTS1 Protein ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disintegrins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Metalloendopeptidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible mechanism of L-arginine supplementation on the angiogenesis of burn wounds in diabetic rats.

METHODSOne hundred male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in the study and were randomly divided into A (scalding control, n = 25), B (scalding of the rats with diabetes, n = 25), C (L-glycine control, n = 25) and D (L-arginine supplementation, n = 25) groups. Diabetes was produced by intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in B, C and D groups. The rats in C and D groups were gavaged with L-glycine and L-arginine in dose of 200 mg.kg(-1).d(-1), respectively. The glucose content of the back skin tissue was determined for five rats in each group eight weeks after STZ administration. Deep partial thickness scalding of 20% TBSA was engendered on the back in the other 80 rats. The wound area, wound healing rate, and microvascular density with CD34 immunohistochemistry staining were determined on 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st post scalding days (PSDs), In addition, the amount of nitric oxide (NO) released from the wound tissue and the tissue contents of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) from wound were determined at the above time points.

RESULTSCompared to those in group B, the wound healing rate in group D increased significantly since the 7th PSD [(44.10 +/- 3.50)%, P < 0.05], and the wound MVD value was increased significantly at all postburn time points. Furthermore, the levels of VEGF, NO and TGF-beta1 in the wound tissue was also increased significantly, while the glucose content in the cutaneous tissue was decreased to (1.380 +/- 0.120) mg/g.

CONCLUSIONL-arginine supplementation could be beneficial to the angiogenesis in the burn wound of the rats with diabetes, as well as to wound healing by increasing the synthesis and the release of VEGF, NO and TGF-beta1 from burn wound and by decreasing the glucose content in the cutaneous tissue of diabetic rats.

Animals ; Arginine ; therapeutic use ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Burns ; metabolism ; therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; physiology

A quantitative real-time PCR assay was developed to measure the proviral load of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in peripheral blood. The technology utilizes special primers and Taqman MGB fluorescence probe to measure amplification products from the gag-pro-pol polyprotein gene of HTLV-I. HTLV-I copy number was normalized to the amount of cellular DNA by quantitation of the beta-actin gene, The amplification system was sensitive to detect 5 copy/microL. The standard curve had a good linearity when the quantity for the gene was between 10(3) and 10(7) copy/microL (R2 = 0.999). Good reproducibility was observed in each intra- and inter-assay. We also measured proviral load in peripheral blood in 12 HTLV-I seropositive former blood donors. Proviral load for HTLV-I infected donors ranged from 0.015 to 12.819 copy/cell in WBC with the mean of 3.116 copy/cell.
Gene Products, gag ; genetics ; Gene Products, pol ; genetics ; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Molecular Probes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Viral Proteins ; genetics