Objective To assess the quality of life (QoL) of rural elderly persons using the health-related dimensions of the EuroQol-5 (EQ-5D) scale to analyze the scale's reliability and validity.Methods A total of 2575 elderly residents of Tongchun rural community in Kaihua county,Zhejiang Province,were surveyed using the instrument EQ-5D,and the visual analogue scale of EQ.They included 1027 with and 1548 without chronic disease.Results The mean total EQ-5D score was 6.49 ± 1.94 for the chronic disease group and 5.15 ± 0.44 for the healthy group.The corresponding average visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were 78.15 ± 17.26 and 91.47 ± 4.37,showing significant differences.About 75％ of the elderly respondents reported no difficulties in their living.There was strong correlation between the EQ-VAS scores and the scores on all the EQ-5D scale dimensions.Conclusion The health-related quality of life reported by the rural elderly using this scale seems quite good.The EQ-5D scale,with the EQ-VAS scale as a part of it,is one useful and effective tool for evaluating the health-related quality of life of the elderly in rural areas.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; complications

The fall risk was evaluated with Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (Chinese version) in 426 elderly hypertensive patients (hypertensive group) and 436 elderly people without hypertension (control group) from rural communities in Zhejiang Quzhou areas.The fall risk scores were compared between hypertensive group and control group ; and also between patients with history of falls and those without falls.The results showed that the average score was 8.62 ± 2.15 in hypertensive group and 9.35 ± 1.35 in control group (P ＜ 0.01).The average score was 6.94 ± 1.85 in hypertensive patients with history of falls (n =112) and 9.22 ± 1.42 in without history of falls (n =314) (P ＜0.01).Our study suggests that there is a higher fall risk in elderly hypertensive patients than in elderly people without hypertension; and fall risk assessment with Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (Chinese version) can be used for prediction of fall for the elderly people in rural community.

Objective To detect the sperm apoptosis rate and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in seminal plasma and explore their correlation among infertile males. Methods Ninety-two inferitile males were divided into varicocele (VC) group (n=32), leukocytospermia group(n=30) and the other cause group (n=30), and another 24 in vitro fertilization sperm samples were sereved as controls. The routine sperm parameters including seminal pH, sperm viability and sperm density were examined by computer assisted sperm analysis, the sperm apoptosis rate was asseseed using Annexin V/PI staining, and the ROS level in seminal plasma was detected by TBA method. The differences in seminal parameters between three infertile groups and control group were compared, and the correlation of sperm apoptosis rate with level of ROS in seminal plasma was explored in each group. Results The sperm viability of three infertile groups was significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.01). The sperm apoptosis rates and levels of ROS in seminal plasma in VC group and leukocytospermia group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The sperm apoptosis rate was positively correlated with the level of ROS in seminal plasma in leukocytospermia group(r=0. 573, P < 0.05). Conclusion The increased sperm apoptosis rate and level of seminal plasma ROS may be related to the infertility of patients with VC and leukocytospermia. The increased level of seminal plasma ROS may be one of the causes of increased sperm apoptosis rate in patients with leukocytospermia.

Objective To establish a method for culture of rat pulmonary capillary pericytes.Methods Six male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 6-7 weeks,weighing 200-220 g,were anesthetized and the chest was opened.The pulmonary capillary was isolated by type Ⅰ collagenase digestion and micropore filtration and cultured in highglucose DMEM/F12 1∶1 containing 10％ fetal bovine serum and 0.5％ mixture of penicillin and streptomycin.The morphology and growth of cells were observed with inverted phase contrast microscope.The positive cells of αsmooth muscle actin (α-SMA),desmin,neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2),cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) were counted by immunofluorescence.The percentage of positive cells was calculated.Results The microscopic examination showed cells of shuttle shape or star shape,mononuclear cells,binuclear cells occasionally,oval nucleus,rich cell plasma,growth in the shape of vortex or fence,and no contact inhibition.The percentage of positive cells ofα-SMA,desmin,NG2,and CD31 was (99.0± 1.2)％,(96.0±2.1)％,(99.0±0.7)％ and0,respectively.Conclusion The culture method for rat pulmonary capillary pericytes is successfully established.

Objective To investigate the effects of lipoprotein lipase activator, NO-1886, on the mRNA and protein expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in the kidney of diet-induced diabetic minipigs. Methods Fifteen Guangxi Bama minipigs were randomized into three groups: C group (n=5, with the normal control diet), DM group (n=5, with the high-fat and high-sucrose diet), and NO-1886 group (n=5, with the high-fat and high-sucrose diet supplemented with 1.0% NO-1886). Plasma glucose, insulin, tfiglyceride (TG), oral glucose tolerant test, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were measured monthly. Urinary samples in the morning were used for determination of microalbumin at month 0, 2, 4 and 5. The mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3β were measured by real time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry in the kidneys obtained at the end of month 5. Results Compared with the C group, levels of plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride and mieroalbuminuria were significantly increased in the DM group. The mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3β were increased in the kidneys of diabetic pigs (mRNA 0.0272±0.0052, protein 1.1600±0.0463, P<0.01) as compared with those of normal pigs (mRNA 0.0125±0.0045, protein 0.1385±0.0664). Compared with the DM group, the concentrations of plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride and mieroalbuminuria obviously decreased in the NO-1886 group. The mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3β were decreased in the kidneys of the NO-1886 group (mRNA 0.0162±0.0019, protein 0.8429±0.0408, P<0.05) as compared with that of the DM group. Conclusion NO-1886 can improve disorders of glucose and TG metabolism and insulin resistance, and down-regulate the expression of GSK-3β in the kidneys, and protect renal function and morphologie damage in diet-induced diabetic minipigs.

Objective To investigate the protective the effect of NO-1886 on the expression of protein kinase C in the kidneys of diabetic minipig model induced by high-sucrose and high-fat diet.Methods 15 Guangzhou minipigs aged 3 months were randomly divided into 3 groups of normal control,diabetes,diabbetes treatment,which were fed by basaldiet,high sucrose and high fat feed or with 1.0%No-1886 respectively.These minipigs were killed at the end of 5th month.Minipigs fed with high fat/high sucrose diet were treated with No-1886,and The fasting concentrations of plasma glucose,triglyceride,serum insulin and PKC were observed.Results High fat high sucrose feeding elevated fasting plasma glucose,trglyceride and serum insulin levels significantly.Supplement of No-1886 into high fat high sucrose diet induced a decrease in plasma glucose,triglyceride,insulin and PKC concentration compared with pigs fed with the sole high fat high sucrose diet.Conclusion No-1886 suppressed plasma glucose,triglyceride,insulin and PKC level.

Objective To study the influence of periacetabular muscle contraction on acetabular] fractures.Methods Twenty intact adult cadaveric pelvis(40 hip joints)treated antiseptically with bilat- eral 1/2 femoral shafts were selected and divided randomly into two groups(20 hip joints in each group). Then,the specimens were trimmed to fit the RMT-150B rock mechanics measuring system and the special in- creasing pressure system.After pressure of 3 500 N was pressed to the control group and pressure of 4500 N to the experimental group,acetabular fracture model was made by beatening with special striking machine,when striking force was recorded.Results We made forty aeetabular fracture models from 40 cadaveric hips. Pearson correlation coefficient of pressing force and striking force was -0.923(P＜0.01).The striking force of the control group and the experimental group was 445-550 N and 290-400 N,respectively(t= 14.727,P＜0.01).Conclusion The increase of contraction force of the periaeetabular muscles can decrease aeetabular stress and strain,influence the result of violent injury and play a vital role in inducing acetabular fractures.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Tripterygium polyglucoside (TⅡ) in treating asthma patients. Methods: Thirty asthma patients of middle or sever leoel were selected and randomly divided into three groups, Group A treated with TⅡ, Group B treated with prednisone and Group C, the control group. Their peripheral CD４＋, CD8＋ T-lymphocytes were counted by flow cytometer and serum interleukin-5 (IL-5) level determined by ELISA before and after 4 weeks′ treatment. Results: In Group A, after treatment, CD４＋ T-lgmphocytes reduced from 0.462±0.035 to 0.426±0.039 (P＜0.01), CD8＋ increased from 0.201±0.045 to 0.253±0.043 (P＜0.01), and serum IL-5 median concentration reduced from 65.3 ng/L to 10.9 ng/L (P＜0.01). Similar results was revealed in Group B, while there was insignificant change of the parameters in Group C. The serum concentration of IL-5 was positively correlated with the peripheral CD４＋ count (r＝0.61, P＜0.01). Conclusion: TⅡ is highly effective in treating asthma through regulating T-lymphocyte subset disorder and inhibiting production of IL-5.

Hyponatremia is relatively common in patients with neurologic disorders, while its diagnosis and treatment remain controversial. Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) has shown to be closely associated with hyponatremia. ODS patients often present as central pontine myelinolysis, extrapontine myelinolysis, or both. This article reviews the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and risk factors of ODS in patients with hyponatremia caused by neurologic disorders.
Demyelinating Diseases ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; complications ; etiology ; Nervous System Diseases ; complications