ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability and validity of the of Disability Assessment Schedule Ⅱ of World Health Organization(WHO-DASⅡ) applied in assessment of the function of disabled athletes.Methods56 disabled people,26 wheelchair basketball athletes and 30 patients,were sampled and completed WHO-DASⅡ questionnaire.The test and re-test had been administrated in 10 days.Barthel Index(BI) and Sports Classification Test had been implemented for the functioning assessment.ResultsThe test-retest reliability for WHO-DASⅡ in six dimensions were: 0.978,0.807,0.938,0.877,0.998,0.935,0.986 and all were in very significant level(P<0.01).There were negative correlation between WHO-DASⅡ scores and BI in total and in every dimension,the correlation coefficients were:-0.77,-0.17,-0.71,-0.82,-0.33,-0.73,-0.61.The correlation coefficients between WHO-DASⅡ total and six dimensional scores and the grade of sports classification were:-0.741,-0.378,-0.806,(-0.541),-0.293,-0.510,-0.677.ConclusionWHO-DASⅡ can be used in assessing the function of disabled athletes.

BACKGROUND: Biomechanical changes of the trunk might be an important factor contributing to the pathogenesis and poor recovery of lumbar disc herniation.OBJECTIVE: To study the biomechanical changes of the trunk of patients with lumbar disc herniation by isokinetic test of the protruded lumbar disc.DESIGN: Non-randomized controlled retrospective study of concurrent patients.SETTING: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients with lumbar disc herniation, admitted in the clinic of Department of Rehabilitation, Changhai Hospital affiliated to Second Military Medical University between February 2001 and January 2002, were enrolled in this study, with another 30 concurrent patients without lumbar disc herniation serving as the control group. Informed consent was obtained from all patients involved.METHODS: A Biodex Multi-joint Testing System was employed for measuring the peak torque(PT), peak torque to body weight(PT/BW), time to peak torque(TPT), torque at 0. 2 s(T@ 0. 2), total work(TW), average power(AP) and flexion to extension(F/E) ratio of the trunk muscles of the patients. The results were analyzed by t test using SPSS 9.0 software.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome: isokinetic evaluation of the lumbar and dorsal flexors and extensors; secondary outcome: F/E ratio.RESULTS: The strength of the trunk flexors and extensors decreased significantly in patients with lumbar disc herniation at each testing speed of retraction, and the bursting strength and indices for work efficiency of the muscles also exhibited obvious changes. The flexors showed greater reduction in muscle strength than the extensors. The F/E ratios during isokinetic concentric contraction at 60°/s and 180°/s were 57.99 ±5.68 and 65.74 ± 8.12, respectively, in patients with lumbar disc herniation, in comparison with the ratios of 95.25 ±5. 18 and 83.03 ±7.61 in the control patients, showing significant difference between the two patient groups( P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Biomechanical changes of the trunk muscles of patients with lumbar disc herniation are definite, and proper rehabilitative treatment of these patients should consists of specific training protocols to restore the mechanical balance of the trunk and break the vicious cycle on the basis ofaccurate evaluation of such changes.

Objective To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of piperacillin-sulbactam against clinical isolates of non-fermentative bacilli isolated from common infections. Methods Microdilution was employed to study the antimicrobial resistance. Results A total of 770 strains were collected from 6 hospitals in Guangzhou, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , Burkholderia cepacia , Flavobacterium , and Alcaligenes. Compared with other β-lactams,piperacillin-sulbactam displayed the highest activity against all the isolates of P. aeruginosa, especially for imipenem non-sensitive isolates, with the susceptibility of 71.9% and 55.8%, respectively. Piperacillinsulbactam and cefoperazone-sulbactam kept good activity against imipenem sensitive isolates of A. baumannii,with the susceptibility of 71.0% and 73. 0%, respectively. For the strains of Burkholderia cepacia, 69% strains exhibited minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≤ 16 mg/L for piperacillin-sulbactam. For the strains of Flavobacterium, and Alcaligenes, piperacillin-sulbactam also had excellent activity, with the susceptibility of 70. 2% and 94. 4%, respectively. Conclusion Piperacillin-sulbactam exhibits good activity again non-fermentative bacilli, especial for imipenem non-sensitive isolates of P. aeruginosa.

Purpose To explore the relationship between the mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) and KRAS genes and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Methods Clinical samples from 431 NSCLC patients were obtained for EGFR and KRAS gene analysis. PCR based direct DNA sequencing was used to investigate mutations in exon 18-21 of EGFR gene and codon 12 and 13 of exon 2 of KRAS gene. Results The overall EGFR mutation rate of primary NSCLC was 53. 6% (231/431) in this study cohort and eight cases showed double EGFR mutations. Mutation rates in female and male were 65. 2% (122/187) and 46. 9% (98/209), respectively. The mutation rate was higher in patients with non-smokers and adeno-carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma subtypes than in their counterparts (P<0. 05), with the percentage of 57. 2% (124/216), 60. 3% (199/330), 42. 9% (6/14), respectively. In squamous cell carcinomas and other subtypes, EGFR mutation rates were 11. 6% (5/43) and 11. 1% (1/9), respectively. The EGFR mutation types included exon 18 point mutations (4. 0%, 9/227), exon 19 deletion mutations (4. 5%, 101/227), exon 20 insert or point mutations (9. 7%, 22/227) and exon 21 point mutations (41. 4%, 94/227). Activating mutations of KRAS gene were detected in 7. 8%(31/396) of NSCLC. Twenty-eight patients showed codon 12 mutations ( G>T, G>A, G>C) , and three patients had codon 13 mutations ( G>A, G>T) . Most of these mutations were G to T transversion (64. 5%, 20/31). Conclusion Polymerase chain reaction-direct sequencing is a reliable and effective method for the detection of the EGFR and KRAS gene mutation in NSCLC patients. The mutation rate of EGFR is higher in Chinese patients, especial-ly in non-smoking female patients with adenocarcinoma.

The effects of glutamate transporters on synaptic plasticity in rat models of pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus were investigated. Male Wista rats ((304.06?13.79) g) were randomly divided into 5 groups, short-term seizures (SE) and its control (SC), long-term seizures (LE) and its control(LC), normal control (Sham) groups. Epilepsy rat models were induced by injection of pilocarpine(25 mg/kg, i.d.). Glutamate transporter inhibitor, DL-threo-benzyloxyaspartate (TBOA, 7.5 nmol,1 ?l) was microinjected into right side of hippocampus after 14 days of initial status epilepticus in SE and LE groups. The same volumes of artificial cerebrospinal fluid were injected into same side of hippocampus in SC and LC groups. Electroencephalographys (EEG) were detected in SE and SC groups after 2 h of drug injection. Long term potential (LTP) at perforant pathway and dentate gyrus(PP-DG) and EEG were recorded in LE and LC groups after two weeks of drug injection. Example of Fluoro-Jade-B staining in the rat brain was made at the end of electrophysiological experiment. The results showed that there was a significant decrease in theta band power of EEG in SE group compared with that of SC group (P 0.05). The slope of excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) was significantly increased in LE group compared with that of LC group (P

Blue laser imaging (BLI) is a new endoscopic system equipped with the laser beam emitting two different wavelengths.It produces bright and high resolution images for observation of microvascular and microsurface patterns of esophageal and gastric mucosa, helping the diagnosis of early upper gastrointestinal cancer.Compared with the existed endoscopic techniques, BLI shows its unique advantages.In this article, advances in application of BLI in diagnosis of early upper gastrointestinal cancer were reviewed.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and plan quality of the image-guided volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) based voluntary deep exhale breath-holding technique in the stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) for liver tumors.Methods Fifteen patients with liver tumors were involved in this study.All patients were immobilized with voluntary deep exhale breath hold (vDEBH) combined with real-time position management (RPM) respiratory gating system.Treatment was planned using VMAT with 2 modified partial arc and re-planned using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique for comparison.Dosimetric parameters were calculated for plan quality assessment.Quality assurance studies included absolute dose and multiple planar dose verifications,total monitor units and delivery time analysis.Daily cone beam computed tomography imaging was used to verify the motions.Results There were no significant dosimetric differences between VMAT and conventional IMRT plans (P ＞0.05).Both techniques were able to minimize doses to organs at risk including normal liver,kidneys,spinal cord,and stomach.However,the average monitor units with VMAT were significantly lower 28.1％ than those with IMRT(t =3.064,P ＜0.05).The average beam-on time in VMAT plans was 31.6％ shorter than that in IMRT plans(t =2.278,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The utilization of VMAT in the treatment planning of SABR for liver tumors under breath control mode has better dosimetrics.In comparison to conventional IMRT plans,VMAT plans have higher efficiency and feasibility.

Endoscopy ; Humans ; Myosarcoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Skull Base ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery

ObjectiveTo learn the status quo of pre-job training,on-the-job training and the demands of training among community health service staff,and to provide evidence of continuing education.MethodsInvestigation was made by self-designed questionnaire in 335 community health service staff from ten service centers and seven service stations in four regions of Guangdong province.Results The rate of pre-job training and on-the-job training were lower than the training demands among community health service staff.The content of on-the-job training was varied and could meet the training needs.Training was maily done in superior hospitals and the main form of training was seminars and classroom teaching.ConclusionTraining efforts should be increased to meet the training demands.Training model should be innovated to improve the training effect.Hospital and community exchanges should be strengthened and the training system should be improved.

Objective Rho signaling component α-catulin,is a cytoskeletal linker protein and plays an important role in apoptotic and senescence resistance,cytoskeletal reorganization,mobility,invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition(EMt)of cancer cells. Methods Here,we ex-amined α-catulin expression in squamous epithelium,dysplasia and cancer of head and neck on tissue microarrays by immunostaining. Its expres-sion was compared with clinicopathological parameters and survival rate of cancers. Results It was found that α-catulin expression level was signifi-cantly higher in primary cancers than that in normal squamous epithelium and dysplasia(P < 0.05),but not significantly correlated with aggressive behaviors or adverse prognosis of HNSCC patients(P > 0.05). Cox′s proportional hazard model indicated that distant metastasis and tNM staging were independent prognostic factors for overall survival of the patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma(HNSCC,P < 0.05). Conclusion these findings suggested that up-regulated expression of α-catulin protein may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HNSCC,which might be employed as a potential marker for tumorgenesis of HNSCCs.