ObjectiveTo investigate the social support and its related factors of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods60 outpatients with COPD over the age of 60 years were recruited in the study. Social support rating scale (SSRS) and demographic information were applied for investigation.ResultsScores of objective, subjective support, and availability of support were lower than the norm (P<0.05). Social support was significantly different among elderly patients with age, education levels and matital status (P<0.05). Patients aged over 70 years, low education level, divorced or widowed were vulnerable groups with low social support.ConclusionEfforts should be made to strengthen the social support system for elderly patients with COPD, especially for those aged over 70 years, low education, divorced or widowed.

Objective To explore the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation under health guidance from clinic nurses on endurance capacity,quality of life, and lung function of the old patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods 54 old patients with stableCOPD were provided with health advice and rehabilitation training for 3 months. Their dyspnea and fatigue were evaluated with Borgrating scales, lung function were tested, 6-minute walking performance and quality of life were rated before and after the rehabilitation. ResultsThe dyspnea and fatigue decreased, 6-minute walking distance increased, and scores of quality of life improved (P<0.01) after rehabilitation,but lung function was not improved significantly (p0.05). Conclusion Health guidance from clinic nurses is able to improve the endurancecapacity and quality of life in old patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the density and distribution of nerve endings and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in lumbar facet joints of patients with low back pain.

METHODSFifteen patients without low back pain were selected as control group (group A). Facet joint samples in group A were obtained during the operation or lumbar spinal canal tumor they suffered from. Those patients with low back pain were divided into three groups according to their different origins of pain, such as not from facet joint (group B, 15 patients) ,from facet joint only (group C, 20 patients), or from facet joint partially (group D, 20 patients). Different origins were determined by VAS after facet joint block. The density and distribution of nerve ending and neuropeptide in the capsular tissues were analyzed by a modified gold chloride staining and immunochemistry respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the ones in group A and B, the fact joints in group C and D were more inclined to be degenerated and got more nerve endings. NPY was expressed mainly in the facet joint of patients with low back pain in group C and D. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the distribution of nerve endings and NPY expression,while none of them were related with MRI Fujiwara grade of facet joint.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the number of mechanoreceptors, neural sprouting and secreted peptides in the facet joint capsules vary with the change of mechanical or nociceptive stimulation, which may promote the development of low back pain in return.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Pain ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mechanoreceptors ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Endings ; pathology ; Neuropeptide Y ; analysis

OBJECTIVELow-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been reported to enhance proliferation and to alter protein production in various kinds of cells. In the present study, we measured the neurites length after LIPUS treatment to define the effectiveness of LIPUS stimulation on neurons, and then we examined the acticity of GSK-3beta to study the intracellular mechanism of neurite's outgrowth.

METHODSLIPUS was applied to cultured primary rat cortical neurons for 5 minutes every day with spatial- and temporal average intensities (SATA) of 10 mW/cm(2), a pulse width of 200 microseconds, a repetition rate of 1.5 KHz, and an operation frequency of 1 MHz. Neurons were photographed on the third day after LIPUS treatment and harvested at third, seventh, and tenth days for immunoblot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis.

RESULTSMorphology change showed that neurite extension was enhanced by LIPUS. There was also a remarkable decrease of proteins, including p-Akt, p-GSK-3beta, and p-CRMP-2, observed on the seventh and tenth days, and of GSK-3beta mRNA expression, observed on the seventh day, in neurons treated with LIPUS.

CONCLUSIONLIPUS can enhance elongation of neurites and it is possible through the decreased expression of GSK-3beta.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA Primers ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Neurites ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ultrasonics

Objective To explore the nutritional status and determinants among rural stranded children under 7 years of age. Methods The group of stranded children (n=7585) and the children for control (n=7557) were identified by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. The ascertainment methods mainly included questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and laboratory examination. Results In this study, there were three groups, including the group of stranded children whose single parent left home to look for better job somewhere, the group of stranded children whose parent both left home and the third group serving as control. Prevalent rates on the following items were: stunting -- 14.9%, 17.9% and 16.3%, underweight -- 7.2%, 8.3% and 7.6%, wasting -- 3.1%, 3.4% and 3.3% and anemia -- 18.9%, 20.6%, 18.7% respectively. The prevalent rate of stunting in the group of children with both parents away from home was significantly higher than that those with only one parent did. The prevalence rate of anemia in the group with both parents away from home was significantly higher than that in the control group. Based on multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis, the determinants of stunting among the stranded children were: age, with low birth weight, living alone, being the only child in the family, mother's education level, frequency of eating breakfast and snacks every week, motives of caretakers and the relationship between children and the caretakers. The determinants of underweight among those stranded children were: age of child, with low birth weight, the frequency of eating snacks every week, motives of the caretakers and having rickets. Conclusion The nutritional status among rural stranded children was relatively poor, especially in those whose parents were both away from home, which calls for urgent improvement.

Objective To investigate the effect of differential diagnosing female genital tract infection diseases by using leucorrhea microscopy method, bacteria pre-enzyme spectrum analysis method and the joint method. Methods Both leucorrhea microscopy method and bacteria pre-enzyme spectrum analysis method were respectively used to detect the vaginal discharges of 4130 women from our hospital outpatient service, and test results combined with clinical manifes-tations and treatment effect were also analyzed and compared summarily. Results 1976 patients were founded by using the leucorrhea microscopy method (detection rate and accuracy rate was 47.8%,71.6% respectively); 1302 cases were founded by using bacteria pre-enzyme spectrum analysis method (detection rate and accuracy rate was 31.5%, 58.1%respectively);2622 cases were detected by using the joint detection method (detection rate and accuracy rate was 63.5%, 91.1% respectively). Conclusion The joint method has the advantages of both leucorrhea microscopy method and bac-teria pre-enzyme spectrum analysis method, and can accurately identify five common kinds of female reproductive tract infection diseases with one sample for once.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that regulate various signaling pathways in the body by mediating the release of proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, thus playing an important role in pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, tumor, immunity and nervous system. More and more studies have shown that exosomal non-coding RNA (ncRNA) plays a crucial role in pancreatic diseases. This article reviews the role of exosome ncRNA in the occurrence, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic diseases such as acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, in order to provide a reference for clinical practice.

Objective To summarize the experience in laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal panereatectomy.Methods From Nov 2003 to July 2006,six patients with distal pancreatic cystic lesions underwent laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with splenic vessels preservation. Results All operations were successful with the operative time ranging from 140～265 min and the intraoperative blood loss ranged from 350～600 ml.One case received combination resection of right adrenal adenoma,1 case with combined laparoscopic myomectomy and left ovarian teratomeetamy,1 case with combined laparoscopic myomectomy,1 case with combined laparoscopic cholecysteetomy.All patients were discharged 4 to 9 days postoperatively.The pathologic diagnosis was retained cyst in 2 cases,serous cystadenoma in 2 cases,mucious cystadenoma in 2 cases.Symptoms disappeared in all cases after operations and there was no recurrence during a follow-up period that ranged from 1 month to 31 months.Conclusions Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with splenic vessels preservation is the most suitable procedure for the distal pancreatic benign lesions,and in experienced hands this procedure is safe and effective.

Objective To explore knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and related determinants on nutrition among caregivers of those rural stranded children under 7 years of age in China and to provide evidence for setting up relevant health education program. Methods 1691 caregivers of the stranded children randomly selected were surveyed by a standard questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to screen the determinants on KAP regarding nutrition. Results Rates on awareness, positive attitude and approprite behavior were lower in caregivers of children whose parents both left (47.8%, 55.4%, 41.8%, respectively) the countryside, when compared with those only one parent was away from home (59.9%, 59.5%, 38.0%, respectively). Data from multivariable logistic regression models showed that caregivers' KAP on nutrition was related to age, educational background, average family income, and willingness on the job as well as the age of the child. Conclusion Improving caregivers' KAP on nutrition and setting up appropriate health education program were in urgent need.

Objective To investigate the effect of nimesulide (NIM), a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, on angiopoietins (Ang) gene expression of human glioma xenografts in nude mice and its significance. Methods Human SHG44 glioma cells were inoculated subcutaneously in 16 nude mice to establish xenograft models, and then these mouse models were randomly divided into NIM treatment group and control group. NIM (6 mg/kg) and saline were poured into the stomachs of the mice in each group, respectively, once daily for 35 d. The mRNA expressions of Ang-1 gene and Ang-2 gene in the xenografts were determined by RT-PCR. Microvessel density (MVD) in the xenografts was assessed by immunohistochemical technique. The tumor growth curve was drawn and the inhibition ratio of tumor growth was calculated. Results NIM could significantly inhibit the glioma xenografts growth with its inhibition rate reaching 42.03%. The mRNA expression of Ang-2 gene in NIM treatment group (0.2032±0.0185) was significantly lower than that in control group (0.6024±0.0289, P＜0.05), but that of Ang-1 gene showed no significant changes; therefore, the mRNA ratio of Ang-2/Ang-1 genes was decreased (0.5825±0.0621 vs. 1.5847±0.1948, P＜0.05). MVD in the xenografts of the NIM treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion NIM, by down-regulating the mRNA expression ofA ng-2 gene and changing the mRNA ratio of Ang-2/Ang-1 genes, can inhibit the tumor growth