OBJECTIVESTo evaluate significance of clinical parameters in prostate cancer staging.

METHODSOne hundred and twelve patients of prostate cancer were diagnosed by transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsies. These cases were staged by pathologic diagnosis, MRI and bone scan. Clinical significance of serum PSA, Gleason score of biopsy, percentage of positive biopsy cores in prostate cancer staging were evaluated.

RESULTSOf 112 patients, 30.4% (34/112) underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. The serum PSA, Gleason score of biopsy and percentage of positive biopsy cores, were significant correlation with staging prostate cancer (r = 0.698, r = 0.674, r = 0.671, P < 0.001), and no significant difference between staging B and staging C (chi 2 = 2.675, P = 0.096; chi 2 = 0.704, P = 0.401). PSA in patients with stage D had significant difference with others (chi 2 = 5.135, P = 0.023; chi 2 = 4.593, P = 0.032). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PSA were 76.7%, 50.0% and 71.4% respectively. Those of Gleason score and percentage of positive biopsy cores were 83.3%, 77.3%, 82.1% and 77.8%, 54.5%, 73.2% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe serum PSA, Gleason score of biopsy and percentage of positive biopsy cores had clinical significance in the staging of prostate cancer. Gleason score of biopsy in staging was more accurate than that of the other two parameters and the serum PSA can better predict prostate cancer metastasis.

Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; analysis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore safe, effective, simple and easy non-drug treatments for grade 1 essential hypertension.

METHODSAccording to TCM syndrome differentiation, 126 cases of grade 1 essential hypertension were classified into 4 types: liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome, yin-deficiency and yang-hyperactivity syndrome, excessive phlegm-dampness syndrome, yin-yang deficiency syndrome, and then the patients were randomly divided into a photoelectric combined with musical treatment group (group A), an acupuncture group(group B) and a placebo group (group C). The acupoints were selected according to TCM syndrome differentiation in group A and group B, and multi-mode audio frequency pulse photoelectric therapeutic apparatus and acupuncture were used in the two groups respectively, once daily. Taichong (LR 3) and Quchi (LI 11) were selected in liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome, Taixi (KI 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected yi yin-deficiency and yang-hyperactivity syndrome, Zusanli (ST 36) and Fenglong (ST 40) were selected in excessive phlegm-dampness syndrome, while Taixi (KI 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected yi yirryang deficiency syndrome. The group C was treated with oral administration of starch tablet (25 mg), one tablet each time,three times everyday. Ten days were considered as one course, totally three courses were required in the three groups. The blood pressure and scores of TCM syndromes before and after treatment were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe blood pressure decreased significantly after treatment in group A and group B (all P<0.01), and the decrease in systolic blood pressure was more significant in group A (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 90.5 / (38/42) in group A, which was superior to 71. 4 (30/42, P < 0.05) in group B and 19.1% (18/34, P<0. 01) in group C. The scores of TCM syndromes were both improved in group A and group B, but without significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of multi-mode audio frequency pulse photoelectric therapeutic apparatus for treatment of grade 1 essential hypertension is reliable. Meanwhile, it has the advantages of a non-invasive and simple operation.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Music Therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the change of the basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) leve in human detrusor muscle(DM)in bladder outlet obstruction(BOO)due to benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and its implication.Methods Fifty-four patients with BPH were divided into two groups:the obstructive DM stability and instability groups;and 15 men with bladder tumor who underwent operation in the same period were enrolled in the control group.The bFGF mRNA level in DM was measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and the bFGF protein level was measured by immunohistochemical staining method.Results The bFGF-mRNA expression level of bladder smooth muscle cells was significantly lower in the control group than that in the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(all P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(P＞0.05). Conclusions The expression level of bFGF mRNA in bladder DM is elevated in BOO due to BPH,but there is little or no correlation between the increased expression of bFGF mRNA and detrusor muscle instability.

Objective To explore the plasma levels of soluble CD40 (sCD40) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in the patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods The levels of plasma sCD40 and sCD40L were measured in 20 patients with AD, 35 patients with aMCI, and 32 cognitively normal controls (NC) using commercially available ELISAs. The cognitive function of AD and aMCI patients was mea?sured by mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Results There were significant differences in plasma sCD40 among AD, aMCI and NC groups (P<0.05) as the medians (the upper and lower quartiles) of plasma levels were 123.3 (97.4, 149.5) pg/mL, 102.9 (63.6, 124.0) pg/mL and 70.66 (51.0, 90.8) pg/mL, respectively. There were significant differences in plasma sCD40L among AD, aMCI and NC groups (P<0.05) as plasma levels were 537.0 (316.0, 1134.0) pg/mL, 316.0 (190.0,546.0) pg/mL and 167.0 (107.5,478.0) pg/mL. A negative correlation between the plasma concentrations of sCD40L and the MMSE scores was found in aMCI patients (r=-0.736, P<0.001). Conclusions There are relevant chang?es of plasma sCD40 and sCD40L levels in patients with AD and aMCI. The present results suggest that plasma levels of sCD40 and sCD40L may be appropriate biomarkers for AD patients and indicate that CD40-CD40L signaling may be in?volved in AD pathophysiology.

Objective To investigate regional spontaneous brain activity in mild cognition impairment (MCI) patients with amnesic (aMCI) and non-amnesic (naMCI).Methods Twenty-five aMCI patients,21 naMCI patients and 15 normal controls (NC) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.The regional homogeneity (ReHo) map of the whole brain was obtained by calculating the similarity of each voxel with its nearest 26 voxel time series.The differences of ReHo map across the whole brain among three groups were compared.Results In aMCI group,ReHo values were lower in right frontal lobe and higher in left middle temporal gyrus and left cerebellum compared with NC (P＜0.05,Alphasim correction).In naMCI group,ReHo values were higher in anterior cingulate cortex and right middle frontal gyrus and lower in right parahippocampa gyrus,right middle temporal gyrus as well as right precuneus compared with NC (P＜0.05,Alphasim correction).Compared with naMCI,the ReHo values were significantly higher in left prefrontal gyrus,left middle temporal gyrus and lower in right cerebellum (P＜0.05,Alphasim correction).Conclusion There are differences in spontaneous brain activity of left prefrontal gyrus,left middle temporal gyrus and right cerebellum between aMCI and naMCI,which may be used to differentiate brain function between aMCI and naMCI patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibition effect of leukemic bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on daunorubicin (DNR) induced apoptosis of human Jurkat cell line, and analyze the differentially expressed genes between Jurkat cells cocultured with leukemic BMSCs or without.

METHODSSuppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was employed to establish subtracted cDNA library of differentially expressed genes in Jurkat cells cocultured with leukemic BMSCs and DNR. The cDNA fragments were sequenced and analyzed.

RESULTSThe differentially expressed gene cDNA library was successfully developed. Primary screening was done by reverse Northern hybridization. Thirty up-regulated and 22 down-regulated cDNA fragments were isolated and sequenced. Analysis and comparison were performed in GenBank using BLAST. These genes are related to cell cycle regulation, cell apoptosis and energy metabolism.

CONCLUSIONLeukemic BMSCs influence gene expression of Jurkat cells. The resulting differentially expressed genes might be associated with the protection of leukemic cells by BMSCs from injury.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; drug effects ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo describe the changes of health related behavior and influencing factor during and after the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), as to providing evidence for inducing public health related behavior to cope with the emergent infectious public health hazards.

METHODSAccording to the epidemic strength of SARS, Guangzhou, Taiyuan, Hangzhou were selected to be the research areas, and convenience sampling was used to identify 200 city residents, 200 country residents and 400 occupational populations from each area. The uniform and self-made questionnaire was carried out by about 2400 residents.

RESULTSAll 2424 subjects completed the questionnaire. The correlation coefficient of scores of health related behavior during and after SARS was 0.782 (P < 0.01). And 39.3% subjects were considered as under the health risked stress by CPSS. Multiple linear regression indicated that the scores of health related behavior were significantly related to the perceived stress, demographic characteristics and recognition of SARS.

CONCLUSIONSThe public health related behavior should be developing in the SARS, and part of health related behavior had been kept after SARS and part been decreased. Behavior change should depends on the prevalence of the disease, cultural heritage and behavior variability. More attention should be paid to induce the public psychology and behavior and enhance the degree of recognition on related knowledge through health education as to relieving the stress in populations when we conduct to cope with the emergent public health hazards.

Adult ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk ; Rural Population ; Sampling Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo study optimum planting density and sowing depth of Tulipa edulis.

METHODThe effects of different planting densities, sowing depth and thin plastic film cover were studied on yield, rate of increase, bulb weight increased multiples, and proliferation rate of bulb.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONUnder 30-200 bulbs per squremeter density range, the yield increased with the density increasing, and reached significance level. In 5-20 centimeter depth range, the yield and the number of harvested bulbs enhanced along with the sowing depth increasing, and the best sowing depth was 20 cm. Thin plastic film cover showed no effect on the growth.

Agriculture ; methods ; Crops, Agricultural ; growth & development ; Tulipa ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo find out the perceived stress in general public during prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and its impact on health behavior.

METHODSA retrospective survey was conducted in Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Taiyuan according to the epidemic situations of SARS, and 2532 subjects were randomly selected from constructive industry, school, and commercial business and residents in urban and rural areas. The perceive stress was measured by Chinese perceived stress scale (CPSS), and health related behavior during SARS was tested by uniform and self-made questionnaire. EpiData 2.0 was used for data management and CPSS value was calculated according to answer to 14 questions contained in the scale. Health risk stress among different population group and health related behavior among low, medium and high stress state were analyzed by SPSS 11.5.

RESULTS2424 subjects were involved in the survey. The CPSS value was measured from 0 - 49 (22.7 +/- 6.8), M = 24.0. 39.3% (953/2379) subjects were under the health risk stress. The health related behaviors such as washing hands, opening the window for air, keeping away from others when cough and sneeze, doing exercises etc were reduced with the stress increased. Logistic regression indicated that compared with the persons with the thoughts of nothing serious of SARS, without any dread of SARS, and knowing nothing about prevention of SARS, the perceived stress was significantly related with perceiving of the thread to certain extent (beta = 0.41, Wald chi(2) = 4.84, P = 0.03), worrying little about the epidemic (beta = 0.50, Wald chi(2) = 6.69, P = 0.01), worrying about it to certain extent (beta = 1.39, Wald chi(2) = 48.59, P = 0.00) and scared so much (beta = 1.77, Wald chi(2) = 53.59, P = 0.00), and knowing little about the prevention (beta = 0.74, Wald chi(2) = 4.48, P = 0.03), knowing something about prevention (beta = -0.98, Wald chi(2) = 8.29, P = 0.00) and knowing the prevention very well (beta = -1.18, Wald chi(2) = 10.66, P = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONThe adoption of health related behaviors declined with increase of perceived stress. Opening connection to authority and government, enhancing the awareness of outburst affairs among general public and providing positive social support may be effective ways to reduce the population perceived stress.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Culture ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Retrospective Studies ; Rural Population ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; psychology ; Social Perception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate MR imaging findings of uveal metastases.Methods MR imaging findings of 20 cases with uveal metastases comfirmed by pathology or follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.MR imaging was performed in 20 patients,of which postcontrast T1-weighted imaging was performed in 19 patients including dynamic contrast enhancement scanning in four cases.Results Metastatic tumor was found in the iris and ciliary body in two cases,and in choroid in 18 cases.The tumor demonstrated slightly hypointense signal on Tl-weighted imaging and isointense signal on T2-weighted imaging in two cases,isointense signal on T1-weighted imaging and isointense signal on T2-weighted imaging in nine cases,isointense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in three cases,isointense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hypointense signal on T_2- weighted imaging in three cases,slighdy hyperintense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hypointense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in two cases,and slightly hyperintense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in one case.The tumor appeared as mild thickness of the wall of the globe in eight cases,a crescent mass in three cases,a fusiform mass in seven cases,and a nodule in two cases.Nineteen patients showed moderate or marked enhancement on postcontrast T_1-weighted imaging.The time-intensity curve of dynamic contrast enhancement in four patients suggested a rapid enhancement and slow washout pattern.Retinal detachment was observed in 11 patients and abnormal signal intensity within the vitreous body was seen in two cases.Conclusion MRI can display the location,shape, signal characteristics,and enhancement pattern of uveal metastases,contributing to diagnosis and differential diagnosis.