The experience of various countries proves that the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment model can lead to reasonable resources allocation and utilization, however, the waste of China''s disordered treatment model has not been estimated.Nowadays, it is very important to establish a hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system during China''s healthcare system reform.Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the benefit the reform may bring.We take Zhejiang Province as an example, and adopted the system dynamics model to build the health delivery system, to emulate the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment model and the disordered model, and to evaluate the benefit.Results showed that if first option at the primary health institutions increased 10%, it could save 0.251 billion yuan, and if increased 15%, it could save 0.39 billion yuan.If the first option at the primary health institution reached 72.35% and the treatment in county reached 90%, the outpatient in tertiary hospital could reduce by 13 million, and those in primary healthcare institutions could increase by 74 million yuan.The direct healthcare cost could reduce 3.016 billion Yuan.

Objective To test the feasibility of rescuing 2 impaired nerves by C7 nerve transfer (C7 nerve double-neurotization). Methods Using adult male Sprague-Dawley rats(200 - 250 g),a C7 nerve double-neurotization model was established. At postoperative 2, 4, 6, 8, 12th weeks the recovery underwent muscle-nerve morpholosical, histological examinations and was compared with C7 single neurotization, Results Most of the parameters in double neurotization group approximated to those in the single neurotization groups and normal control group at the end of observation period, thus indicating C7 nerve contains enough nerve fibers to provide sufficient regeneration for 2 recipient nerves. Conclusion Compared to single neurotization, C7 nerve double-neurotization has the advantage of restoring 2 nerve function at same time. This implicates its future clinical application in the treatment of severe brachial plexus avulsion injuries.

Objective To find a selection method system appropriate for China's essential drug list.Methods Collection and analysis of technical paper literature on essential drug list developement,adjustment technical papers,and literature on evidence-based medicine,pharmacoeconomics evaluation,and medical insurance budget analysis from WHO and other countries.On such basis,a method system for selecting China's essential medicine list can be proposed,with its feasibility analyzed and demonstrated.Results The GRADE assessment proposed by WHO was used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug;the pharmacy economics evaluation is added to assess the economic efficiency;these were aided by the pharmacoeconomics evaluation for a comprehensive evaluation of the pharmacoeconomics of the drug in question,supplementing analysis of the medical insurance,and ensuring its affordability of essential medicine so selected.The theory of this system is well developed,and supporting software ready for application.Examples in Zhejiang Province regarding essential medicine for diabetes have proved this method feasible.Data acquisition constitutes a major roadblock for scientific selection due to barriers against medical insurance data sharing.Conclusions Theoretic basis and method tools are fully available for essential medicine selection,and the selection method system as proposed in this study prove feasible to some extent.Decision makers are recommended to scientifically select the essential drugs,and to encourage data sharing,in order to make the list more scientific and pragmatic.

Objective　To explore the relationship between te lomerase activity and bile duct carcinoma and its significance in clinical diag nosis. Methods　Telomerase activities were examined in 23 cases of bile duct carcinoma, 5 cases of carcinoma adjacent tissues and 5 cases of nor mal bile duct tissues respectively with telomerase PCR-ELISA method. Results　Telomerase activity was detected in 18 of 23 cases (78.3%) of b ile duct carcinoma, and was not found in 5 cases of carcinoma adjacent tissues a nd 5 cases of normal bile duct tissues. The detection rate of telomerase activit y had no correlation with patients' age, sex, tumor site and size but significan tly correlated to metastasis of tumor (P<0.05). Conclusion　The level of telomerase activity was significantly higher in bile duct carcino ma and may be served as one of the clinical marker for malignant neoplasm becaus e of its spsecificity.

In practice of forensic medicine, potential disease can be associated with fatal asphyxia in restraint position. Research has demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are plentifully distributed in skeletal muscle, contributing to the regulation of contractile and relaxation. In the current study, respiratory functions, indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions ex vivo, as well as NO levels in serum, the expressions of diaphragmatic inducible NOS (iNOS) mRNA, and the effects of L-NNA on contractility of the diaphragm were observed in sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) under the condition of restraint position. The results showed that in the CLP12-18h rats, respiratory dysfunctions; indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions (Pt, +dT/dt(max), -dT/dt(max), CT, Po, force over the full range of the force-frequency relationship and fatigue resistance) declined progressively; the NO level in serum, and iNOS mRNA expression in the diaphragm increased progressively; force increased significantly at all stimulation frequencies after L-NNA pre-incubation. Restraint position 1 h in CLP12 h rats resulted in severe respiratory dysfunctions after relative stable respiratory functions, almost all the indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions declined further, whereas little change took place in NO level in serum and diaphragmatic iNOS mRNA expression; and the effects of L-NNA were lack of statistical significance compared with those of CLP12 h, but differed from CLP18 h group. These results suggest that restraint position and sepsis act together in a synergistic manner to aggravate the great reduction of diaphragmatic contractility via, at least in part, the negative modulation of NO, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of positional asphyxia.
Animals ; Asphyxia ; Diaphragm/physiology* ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Rats ; Respiration Disorders ; Restraint, Physical ; Sepsis

OBJECTIVE: To observe the time-course expression of calcium-calmodulin dependent protein kinase II delta (CaMK II delta) in cerebral cortex after traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: The TBI rat model was established. The expression of CaMK II delta in cerebral cortex around injured area was tested by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Western blotting revealed expression of CaMK II delta in normal rat brain cortex. It gradually increased after TBI, peaked after 3 days, and then returned to normal level. The result of immunohistochemical staining was consistent with that of Western blotting. CONCLUSION The expression of CaMK II delta around injured area after TBI increased initially and then decreased. It could be used as a new indicator for wound age determination following TBI.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Injuries/metabolism* ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2/metabolism* ; Cerebral Cortex/metabolism* ; Forensic Medicine ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the transhiatus esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 46 patients with esophageal cancer undergone transhiatus esophagectomy by single surgeon team from May 2000 to July 2007 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThese 46 patients included 44 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas,1 esophageal adenocarcinoma and 1 esophageal carcinoid. The lesions of 11 patients located at neck segment, 21 at upper segment, 5 at middle segment, and 9 at lower segment. All the patients were classified according to UICC TNM stage classification: 3 cases as stage 0, 6 cases as stage I, 17 cases as stage II a, 2 cases as stage II b, 16 cases as stage III. Six patients received preoperative chemotherapy and pathological complete response was seen in 2 cases. Reconstruction with stomach was performed in 42 cases and with colon interposition in 4 cases.All the tumors were resected, and there was no perioperative death. All the resected margins were pathologically clear. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 cases and were successfully treated, including 2 cases of hoarseness, 3 cases of cardiac arrhythmia,1 case of bilateral pleural effusion, and 6 cases of small anastomotic leakage at neck.

CONCLUSIONTranshiatus esophagectomy is an ideal choice in surgical treatment for patients with esophageal cancer, especially for the ones of aged, poor cardiac or pulmonary function, who can not afford the thoracotomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Esophagus ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate bi-directional modulation effect of Chinese herbal medicine on immunol cells.

METHODTwo different active portions were isolated from Kudzuvine Root(Radix puerariae), one being the ethanol extraction and another the water extraction. Different concentration of these two different portions was studied by using PMA stimulated lymphocyte or eosinophil initiated chemiluminescence system.

RESULTWater extraction of Kudzuvine Root could enhance chemiluminescence concentration dependently whereas enthanol extraction of Kudzuvine Root inhibited the chemiluminescence significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe bi-directional regulation effect of Chinese herbal medicine can be found in the same herb, because of its efficacy of different active compounds.

Cell Separation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Eosinophils ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Water

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the gene expression of hepatic TNF-α and IL-1β by crush injury of rat's soft tissues. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into sham group, crush group, crush+aminoguanidine (AG) group, and crush+L-arginine (L-Arg) group. Activities of ALT and AST as well as NO level in serum were measured. Gene expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were detected with RT-PCR. RESULTS: Obvious increase in TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression was detected in the crush group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). After pretreated L-Arg, expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA were markedly increased (P<0.05). After pretreated AG, those indices obviously decreased (P<0.05). Activities of ALT and AST enhanced and NO level increased in the crush group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). Pretreatment with L-Arg or AG led to substantial increased or reduced activities of ALT and AST as well as NO levels, respectively. CONCLUSION Endogenous NO mediated TNF-α, IL-1β mRNA up expression in liver induced by increased production of NO after crush injury of rat's soft tissues.
Animals ; Gene Expression ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Liver ; Nitric Oxide/physiology* ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVETo investigate the stability and three-dimensional movements of the atlantoaxial joint after artificial atlanto-odontoid joint (AAOJ) arthroplasty by comparing with a conventional method.

METHODSAfter anterior decompression, 24 human cadaveric spinal specimens of C0-C3 were randomly divided into two groups: Group A receiving artificial AAOJ arthroplasty; Group B experiencing anterior transarticular screw (ATAS) fixation. Two groups underwent flexibility test in intact and instrumented states. Rotational angle of the C0-C3 segments was measured to study the immediate stability and function of anterior decompression with AAOJ arthroplasty compared with the intact state and ATAS fixation.

RESULTSCompared with the intact state, anterior decompression with AAOJ arthroplasty resulted in a significant decrease in the range of motion (ROM) and neutral zone (NZ) during flexion, extension and lateral bending (P less than 0.05); however, with regard to axial rotation, there was no significant difference in ROM and NZ (P larger than 0.05). Compared with anterior decompression with ATAS fixation, anterior decompression with AAOJ arthroplasty during flexion, extension and lateral bending, significant difference was found in ROM and NZ (P larger than 0.05); however, as for axial rotation, there was a significant increase in ROM and NZ (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe self-designed AAOJ has an excellent biomechanical performance, which can restore excellent instant stability and preserve the movement of the atlantoaxial joint.

Adult ; Arthroplasty ; methods ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Cadaver ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; physiology