ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To translate the English version of the Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) into Korean and to investigate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the PDQ (K-PDQ) in patients suffering chronic disabling musculoskeletal disorders (CDMDs). METHODS: The English version of the PDQ was translated into Korean. Ten patients with CDMDs were randomly selected for a pilot study to assess the comprehensibility of the pre-final version. One hundred and thirty-nine patients suffering from CDMDs for more than 3 months were enrolled in this study. Follow-up questionnaires were obtained to examine the test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing the K-PDQ with the visual analogue scale (VAS). Construct validity was evaluated by comparing the K-PDQ with the brief form of the World Health Organization quality of life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) using Pearson correlation coefficient. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency was determined by Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability was assessed in 70 patients, with an average time interval of 12 days. The ICC was 0.958 (p<0.001). Internal consistency reached Cronbach's alpha of 0.933 for the functional component and 0.870 for the psychosocial component. The correlation coefficient for the K-PDQ when compared with the VAS was 0.834 in the first assessment and 0.831 in the second assessment. All domains of the WHOQOL-BREF showed a significant negative correlation with the K-PDQ. CONCLUSION: The K-PDQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring disability and can be used to assess disability and treatment outcomes in Korean patients with CDMD.
Subject(s)
Humans , Follow-Up Studies , Pilot Projects , Quality of Life , Reproducibility of Results , Treatment Outcome , World Health Organization , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
To study the expression of human telomerase RNA(hTR) in different grades of bladder transitional cell carcinoma and its relation to its prognosis. With in situ hybridization, the expression of hTR was observed in 67 cases of bladder transitional cell carcinoma specimens, to be compared with specimens of 10 normal bladder tissue and 10 benign lesions. The RNA probe used in hybridization was telomerase reverse transcript (TERT), and the marker was digoxin. There was a significent correlation between the expression of hTR and grading and prognosis. hTR is considered as an important and independent prognostic factor in this carcinoma.
ABSTRACT
Background:Eutropin is a recombinant human growth hormone preparation and has been used in patients with growth hormone deficiency. Short stature is a characteristic feature of Turner syndrome, which is caused by sexual chromosomal anomalies. Growth hormone therapy would increase growth velocity and increase the ultimate final height in patients with Turner syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects and safety in patients with Turner syndrome with Eutropin treatment. Subjects and METHODS:60 patients with Turner syndrome,who were diagnosed by chromosome study,were treated with Eutropin 1IU/kg/week for 12 months and followed up every 3 month. The height and weight were evaluate at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 months. A complete blood count, ESR, urinary analysis and chemistry studies were done every 3 month. IGF- I , T4, TSH & anti-GH antibody were measured at 6 months and 12 months. Chest X-ray was checked at 0, 6 ,12 months. RESULTS:60 patients were enrolled but 10 patients were lost or treated irregularly and excluded in the study of growth effect. but included all cases in safety analysis. At the onset of Eutropin therapy,their mean age was 10.8+/-2.9 years old(range 4.2- 14.9yr)and the height was 121.1+/-13.7cm(-3.1+/-0.9 SDS) and yearly growth velociy was 3.4+/-1.5cm. Their weight was 30.5+/-10.6kg and bone age 9.1+/-3.0 yrs. After Eutropin treatment, mean height was increased to 123.2+/-13.5cm at 3 months, 125.2+/-13.1cm at 6 months, 127.5+/-12.4cm at 9 months, 128.3+/-12.8cm at 12 months. Height velocity were increased to 8.3+/-3.1cm at 3 months, 8.1+/-2.6cm at 6 months, 7.6+/-1.9cm at 9 months and 7.1+/-1.9cm at 12 months(P0.001).Their bone age were 9.1+/-3.0yr, 9.6+/-2.9yr, 10.2+/-2.7yr before and 6 & 12 months after treatment respectively. HA/BA were 0.84+/-0.15, 0.87+/-0.13, 0.88+/-0.12 at before and 6 & 12 months after treatment respectively(P<0.05). Growth velocity of 4-8 yrs group was most prominent compared to other groups. Serum IGF- I concentration was increased from 167.4+/-85.8ng/ml to 368.4+/-158.1ng/ml at 6 months and 423.2+/-181.0ng/ml at 12 month(P<0.001) after treatment. No significant changes were observed in thyroid function, CBC, ESR, Blood chemistry and urinalysis. Anti-hGH antibody were positive in 2 patients, but these didnot attenualte the growth velocity. CONCLUSION: Treatment with Eutropin increased significantly height velocity in patients with Turner syndrome. No specific adverse events were observed during Eutropin therapy.