Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the Quality OF Life Radiation Therapy Instrument and the Head & Neck Module (QOL-RTI/H&N).

Background: To translate and validate the Chinese version of the Quality Of Life Radiation Therapy Instrument and the Head & Neck Module (QOL-RTI/H&N), a disease-specific scale to measure quality of life (QOL) for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who received radiotherapy.

Methods: The QOL-RTI/H&N was translated and validated according to the standard process: a translation and back-translation procedure, pilot testing and a validation study. HNC patients were enrolled from the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University and assessed using the QOL-RTI/H&N, QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35.

mGluR5 promotes the differentiation of rat neural progenitor cells into cholinergic neurons and activation of extracellular signal-related protein kinases.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) regulate neurogenesis in the mammalian central nervous system during development and throughout adulthood. However, the mechanisms remain unknown. The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of mGluR5 on the differentiation of rat neural progenitor cells (NPCs) into neurons as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms.

miR-494 acts as an anti-oncogene in gastric carcinoma by targeting c-myc.

Background: We recently showed that miR-494 was downregulated in gastric carcinoma (GC). The objectives of this study were to determine the role of miR-494 in GC malignancy and to identify its target genes.

Methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to quantify the expression level of miR-494 and c-myc in gastric cancer tissues.

The role of quality of care and attitude towards disability in the relationship between severity of disability and quality of life: findings from a cross-sectional survey among people with physical disability in China.

Background: People with physical disability (PWPD) is the largest subgroup of people with disability (PWD) in China, but few studies have been conducted among this vulnerable population. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of quality of life (QoL), self-perceived quality of care and support (QOCS), severity of disability and personal attitude towards disability among people with physical disability in China, as well as to identify how QoL can be affected by severity of disability through QOCS and personal attitude towards disability among PWPD.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,853 PWPD in Guangzhou, China.

Low concentration of serum helps to maintain the characteristics of NSCs/NPCs on alkali-treated PHBHHx film in vitro.

Objective: Efforts have been made by tissue engineers to create a permissive environment for neural regeneration, and to enhance the efficiency of neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation. However, to acquire sufficient number of seed cells on the material appears to be the main obstacle to constructing functional transplantable NSC-biomaterial complexes. A culture system has been optimized in the current study to maintain the specific characteristics of NSCs/neural progenitor cells (NPCs) on the material and achieve sustaining increased multipotent seed cells.

A comparison of four methods for the analysis of N-of-1 trials.

Objective: To provide a practical guidance for the analysis of N-of-1 trials by comparing four commonly used models.

Methods: The four models, paired t-test, mixed effects model of difference, mixed effects model and meta-analysis of summary data were compared using a simulation study. The assumed 3-cycles and 4-cycles N-of-1 trials were set with sample sizes of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 respectively under normally distributed assumption.

Serologic biomarkers of Epstein-Barr virus correlate with TNM classification according to the seventh edition of the UICC/AJCC staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

This study aimed to investigate the association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related biomarkers and TNM classification according to the seventh edition of AJCC/UICC staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Serum VCA-IgA and EA-IgA titers and plasma EBV-DNA load were quantified at baseline in 779 patients; the rates of positivity and titers/load were compared by TNM classification. The VCA-IgA-positive rate was significantly associated with advanced N classification and stage; the EA-IgA-positive rate with advanced T and N classifications and stage; the EBV-DNA-positive rate with advanced T, N and M classifications and stage.

Translation and psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of functional digestive disorders quality of life questionnaire.

Background: Few useful patient-reported outcomes scales for functional dyspepsia exist in China.

Aims: The purpose of this work was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Functional Digestive Disorders Quality of Life Questionnaire (FDDQL) from the English version to Chinese (in Mandarin).

Methods: The following steps were performed: forward translations, synthesis of the translations, backward translations, pre-testing and field testing of FDDQL.

Transplantation with retinal progenitor cells repairs visual function in rats with retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIR) is a common pathological process that leads to progressive visual loss and blindness in many retinal diseases such as retinal vascular occlusion disease, diabetic retinopathy, and acute glaucoma. Currently, there has been no effective therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of transplantation of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) into the subretinal space (SRS) and the superior colliculus (SC) in a rat model of RIR injury.

Maternal influenza-like illness, medication use during pregnancy and risk of congenital heart defects in offspring.

Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal influenza and congenital heart defects (CHDs), and whether the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or Western medicine (antibiotics, antipyretic-analgesic drugs) modified this association.

Method: We analysed 294 fetuses with CHDs and 416 control fetuses without any abnormalities identified from February 2010 through October 2011 in this hospital-based case-control study. Participating mothers were interviewed to determine whether they had been infected with "influenza" during the early pregnancy period or had used any medicine (TCM, Western medicine) to treat influenza.

[Salidroside protects cultured rat subventricular zone neural stem cells against hypoxia injury by inhibiting Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 expressions].

Objective: To explore the effects of salidroside (sal) on the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and caspases-3 proteins in cultured rat subventricular zone (SVZ) neural stem cells (NSCs) exposed to hypoxia injury.

Methods: Primarily cultured SVZ NSCs from adult SD rats were incubated with salidroside (120 and 240 µmol/L) for 24 h prior to exposure to hypoxia. The cell viability was assessed with MTT assay, and the cell apoptosis was analyzed using TUNEL staining and flow cytometry.

Double-positive expression of high-mobility group box 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor C indicates a poorer prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

Background: Although many studies have indicated that high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is associated with oncogenesis and a worse prognosis, the prognostic value of HMGB1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate the role of HMGB1 in GC and examined whether aberrant expression of both HMGB1 and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) increased the malignant potential of GC.

Methods: A total of 166 GC patients and 32 normal subjects were enrolled.

Rapid detection of aneuploidy and unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements by subtelomeric multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in fetuses with congenital heart disease.

Objective: To validate multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) with subtelomeric probe mixes as a tool for diagnosis of aneuploidy and unbalanced terminal chromosomal rearrangements in fetuses with congenital heart disease.

Methods: A prospective study of 117 fetuses found to have structural heart defects by ultrasound at 17-40 weeks' gestation. MLPA with P036E and P070B probe mixes was performed and compared to traditional karyotyping by cell culture and to findings of quantitative fluorescence-polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR).

Vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects of ZCM298, a dihydropyridine derivative, are through inhibiting extracellular calcium influx.

Background: ZCM298 is a novel 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative. The aim of the study was to investigate its vasodilation and hypotension, and the related mechanisms.

Methods: The isometric tension of artery ring segments was recorded using an in vitro myography system.

Periconceptional paternal smoking and the risk of congenital heart defects: a case-control study.

Background: Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been consistently associated with an increased risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs). However, few studies have reported the association between paternal smoking during pregnancy and CHDs among offspring. This report presents the first case-control study to investigate the possible association between periconceptional paternal smoking and CHDs in China.

Association between maternal exposure to housing renovation and offspring with congenital heart disease: a multi-hospital case-control study.

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most prevalent birth defects. Housing renovations are a newly recognized source of indoor environmental pollution that is detrimental to health. A growing body of research suggests that maternal occupational exposure to renovation materials may be associated with an increased risk of giving birth to fetuses with CHD.

Spatial relationship between NSCs/NPCs and microvessels in rat brain along prenatal and postnatal development.

Neurogenesis and angiogenesis are two parallel processes that occur in brain development and repair, and so share some molecular signals. In order to better understand the interaction between the genesis of neural cells and vessels during brain development, the density of microvessels and the number of nestin positive neural stem/neural progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs) around microvasculature in various brain regions was quantified. Results showed that the density of microvessels remained at a relative low level during embryonic development and dramatically increased after postnatal day 3 (P3), especially in subventricular zone.

The association between periconceptional folic acid supplementation and congenital heart defects: a case-control study in China.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association between folic acid (FA) supplementation and congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Methods: This hospital-based case-control study initiated in 2010 in China analyzed 358 cases and 422 controls. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) calculated using a logistic model was used to assess the association between FA supplementation and CHDs.

The mental retardation-associated protein srGAP3 regulates survival, proliferation, and differentiation of rat embryonic neural stem/progenitor cells.

The mental retardation-associated protein, srGAP3 is highly expressed in neurogenic sites. It is thought to regulate the key aspects of neuronal development and functions. Little is known about the interaction between srGAP3 and immature neural stem cells/neural progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs).

[Biocompatibility of surface modified PHBHHx with rat embryonic neural stem cells].

To study the attachment, proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) on surface modified PHBHHx films and to establish the theory of PHBHHx application in NSCs-based brain tissue engineering. PHBHHx film was fabricated by a solution-casting method, and the morphology of the film was observed under scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The films were treated by NaOH or lipase, then the surface hydrophilic property was characterized using water contact angle measurement.

Hypoxia-regulated neurotrophin-3 expression by multicopy hypoxia response elements reduces apoptosis in PC12 cells.

We have previously reported that 5 copies of the hypoxia response element (HRE) can conditionally regulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene expression under hypoxic/ischemic conditions in mice. In the present study, we investigated the controlled expression of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) by HRE under hypoxic conditions and determined the protective effects of conditionally expressed NT-3 on hypoxia-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Five copies of the HRE (5HRE) and the simian virus 40 minimal promoter (SV40mp) were employed to construct a cassette, and transfer of therapeutic gene, NT-3, into PC12 cells was achieved using a retroviral vector.

[Deferoxamine suppresses microglia activation and protects against secondary neural injury after intracerebral hemorrhage in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFA) in suppressing microglia activation and protecting against secondary neural injury in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, ICH group and DFA treatment group. ICH model was established by infusion of type IV collagenase into the right basal ganglia, and starting from 1 h after the operation, the rats received intraperitoneal DFA injections every 12 h for 7 days.

Assessment of right ventricular function in recipient twin of twin to twin transfusion syndrome with speckle tracking echocardiography.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the right ventricular myocardial systolic function and its relation to the fetal volume and pressure overload in recipient twin of twin to twin transfusion syndrome with speckle tracking echocardiography. Longitudinal peak systolic strains of the right ventricle were measured by speckle tracking echocardiography in 17 patients with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and 19 normal monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies. The right ventricular free wall thickness in recipient twin (0.

The protective effects of tanshinone IIA on neurotoxicity induced by β-amyloid protein through calpain and the p35/Cdk5 pathway in primary cortical neurons.

The characteristic pathological change of Alzheimer's disease (AD) include deposits of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) in brain, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), as well as a few neuronal loss. Evidence shows that Aβ causes calcium influx and induces the cleavage of p35 into p25. Furthermore, the binding of p25 to cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) constitutively activates Cdk5.

[Retrospective analysis for 104 cases of early-stage Hodgkin's Lymphoma treated with different modality therapies].

This paper explored the curative effect of combined modality therapy and extended field radiotherapy for early-stage Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 104 cases of early-stage Hodgkin's Lymphoma from Jan 1987 to Dec 2010 in PLA Hospital 307 were retrospectively analyzed, including 76 cases in combined modality therapy group and 28 cases in extended field radiotherapy group, and the long-term efficacy and toxicity of two therapy modalities were evaluated. The results showed that the median survival time of 104 cases was 85.