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【Objective:】 To explore the individual needs and the willingness to actively participate in treatment decision-making and communication among school-age children during hospitalization. 【Methods:】 Using the interview outline containing 11 questions summarized based on literature review, face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients of school-age children, and the contents of the interview feedback were summarized. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model and child-centered care methods, the subjects’ individual needs and willingness to actively participate in treatment decision-making and communication during hospitalization were analyzed. 【Results:】 A total of 40 hospitalized school-age children from January to April 2022 were selected, including 27 males (67.5%) and 13 females (32.5%), with a mean age of (11.8±3.2) years old. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and the results were summarized. The main contents summarized from the interview results included children’s needs for their parents, medical staff, and the hospitalization environment. 【Conclusion:】 School-age children were able to express their various needs and willingness to actively participate in treatment decision-making and communication during hospitalization. School-age children need to be provided age-appropriate opportunities to participate in decision-making to support their reasonable needs.
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Objective To evaluate the prtognostic significance of preoperative serum extracellular matrix protein 1 ( ECM1 ) levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Preoperative serum levels of ECM1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 117 HCC patients and 53 healthy volunteers.Corrrlations to the clinicopathological characteristics and patients survival were analyzed.Results ECM1 were detected in all the samples of 117 HCC patients and 53 healthy volunteers,the median serum ECM1 level in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in healthy volunteers ( 166.39 vs 108.06 pg/ml,Z =- 7.805,P ＜ 0.001 ).Median serum ECM 1 levels were significantly higher in patients with invasive phenotypes,such as larger tumor size (Z =- 3.454,P =0.001 ),multiple nodule ( Z =- 2.201,P =0.028 ),vascular invasion ( Z =- 4.685,P ＜ 0.001 ),and advanced TN M stage ( Z =-4.610,P ＜ 0.001 ).Patients with lower serum ECM1 level (≤ 180 pg/ml ) have significantly better overall and disease free survival thanthose with higher levels ( ＞ 180 pg/ml).By Cox proportional-hazard model multivariate analysis,high serum ECM1 level ( ＞ 180 pg/ml) was an independent factor for OS and DFS in HCC patients.Conclusions Serum ECM1 levels are significantly correhted to the invasive phenotypes and survival rate.Serum ECM1 level could be used as a predictive marker for HCC recurrence and prognostic factor of HCC patients after surgery.
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Objective To investigate the expression of patterned matrix vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its prognostic significance. Methods HCC tissues from 151 patients undergoing curative resection in Anhui Provincial Hospital from January 2003 to December 2008 were studied.Postoperative follow-up and clinicopathologic data were reviewed.Immunohistochemical staining of laminin,CD34 and transmission electron microscopy were used to identify patterned matrix VM in HCC.The relations between clinicopathologic features, prognosis and patterned matrix VM were analyzed.Results Patterned matrix VM was positive in 31 out of 151 cases (20.5％ ).The expression of patterned matrix VM was positively correlated with tumor size ( x2 =4.132,P =0.042),vascular invasion ( x2 =5.825,P=0.016),high Edmondson grade (x2 =5.256,P=0.022),and late pTNM stage (x2 =6.218,P =0.013).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that cases of the VM positive group had poor overall 1,3 and 5 year survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than that of the VM negative group (67.7％,34.6％,11.5％ and 86.7％,64.7％,40.3％,respectively,x2 =14.852,P ＜ 0.001 ; and 41.9％,19.4％,6.5％ and 63.3％,40.6％,19.6％,respectively,x2 =10.065,P =0.002).Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that multiple tumor nodules,vascular invasion and VM were independent prognostic factors for overall survival,while vascular invasion and VM were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Conclusions Patterned matrix VM exists in HCC. The expression of patternedmatrix VM is associated with tumor size,Edmondson grade,pTNM stage and vascular invasion,and it might serve as an unfavorable prognostic factor for HCC patients.
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Objective To assess the effects of gonadectomy on carcinogenesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by chemical substances in rat model. Methods Fifty male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats (age of 5-6 weeks) were equally divided into four groups: male experimental (surgical castration) and control groups and female experimental (surgical castration)and control groups. The HCC model was induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and Nnitrosomorpholine (NMOR) in SD rats. The effects of gonadectomy on occurring and development of HCC were observed. Results The incidence of HCC in female experimental group was higher than that in female control group (11/11 vs 5/14, P=0. 001), while it was lower in male experimental group than that in male control group (3/10 vs 12/12, P=0. 001). It was demonstrated that gonadectomy could increase the growth of HCC (P=0. 013) and tumor metastasis (P=0. 036) in female rats, but not in male rats. The formation of liver cirrhosis and HCC was found at 8 and 16 weeks in male experimental group, at 12 and 20 weeks in male control group, at 16 and 20 weeks in female experimental group and at 12 and 16 weeks in female control group. These findings showed that gonadectomy could improve the development of carcinogenesis in female rats and delay the carcinogenesis in male rats. Conclusion Sex hormones, especially estrogens, may be involved in development and metastasis of rats HCC.
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Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived secretory protein. It was found to be associated with insulin resistance, inflammation and arteriosclerosis. To further study the biological function and expression of adiponection in vivo, adipoenctin gene knock-out and LacZ gene knock-in mouse model was constructed. Gene targeting strategy was designed to replace part of exon 2 and exon 3 of adiponectin gene with full length LacZ gene in frame with remaining upstream ATG and signal peptide sequence of exon 2. The targeting vector (Adipo-LacZ-XpPNT) was constructed and verified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing. CJ7 ES cells were transfected with targeting vector linearized by NotⅠ digestion, selected in the medium containing both G418 and ganciclovoir. Resistant clones were screened by PCR and further confirmed by Southern blot for correct homologous recombinants. Chimera mice were obtained by routing microinjection of homologous recombined ES cells into blastocysts. After mating, mice heterozygous and further homozygous for adiponectin knockout and LacZ gene knock-in were established. Expression of both endogenous adiponectin and exogenous LacZ gene in mouse tissues and sera were detected by RT-PCR, Northern-blot, Western blot and ELISA. The results show that adiponectin was disrupted at both mRNA and protein levels. LacZ gene is expressed exclusively in adipose tissue of mutant mice. Its expression profile is identical to endogenous adiponection. Unexpectedly, LacZ activity could not be detected in both adipose tissue and serum although LacZ protein can be detected in adipose tissue but not in serum of mutant mice. In conclusion, mice homozygous for adiponectin knockout and LacZ gene knock-in have been successfully constructed. Mutant mice display LacZ expression profile identical to endogenous adiponectin albeit neither LacZ activity nor protein can be detected in serum of mutant mice.
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Objective To evaluate the diagnostic significance of detecting serum-DNA concentration and clonal gene rearrangement in lymphogenous malignant patients.Methods Serum-DNA in 72 diagnosed patients were measured and analyzed by SPSS11.0.Serum and mono-nuclear cells samples were collected. IgH CDRⅢ, TCR?V9 region were amplified by PCR.Results The serum-DNA concentration of disease groups were (418?172)?g/ml,(426?192)?g/ml, (388?170)?g/ml and(400?110)?g/ml, each was higher than those of control group(77?47)?g/ml(P0.05).Conclusion The concentration of serum-DNAwere higher in lymphogenous malignant patients and tumor associated DNA could be easily detected, so they have important diagnostic value in lymphogenous malignant patients.
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Endomorphins(EMs),two tetrapeptides, were discovered in 1997 and believed to be endogenous ligands of μ-opioide receptor(MOR). They mediated various physiological processes by binding to MOR that couple with G-proteins. Based on our works and literatures, we reviewed the distribution in nerve system, receptor binding properties, analgesis, effects on ion channels, conformation and struction-activity relationship of EMs.
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AIM To analyze the effects of endomorphins (EMs) and their analogs (［D-Pro2］EM-1, ［D-Ala2］EM-1, ［D-Pro2］EM-2 and ［D-Ala2］EM-2) on the cardiovascular system of anesthetized rats and to study its mechanism. METHODS Responses to EMs and their analogs were investigated in the systemic vascular bed of rats and the mesenteric microarteria of Bufo gargarizans. Responses to EMs were investigated on the hindquarters of the rat vascular bed under constant-flow conditions and on the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta strips. RESULTS The EMs and their analogs showed dose-related (10-9-10-6 mol*L-1, iv) and naloxone-sensitive (2 mg*kg-1, iv) hypotension in mean arterial pressure of rats with similar duration and vasodilatation in mesenteric microarteria of Bufo gargarizans. The sequence of potencies was EMs > ［D-Pro2］EM-2 > ［D-Ala2］EM-2 > ［D-Ala2］EM-1 > ［D-Pro2］EM-1. EMs were shown not to relax the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta strips without endothelium. EMs, however, relaxed them with endothelium significantly. This action was blocked by Nx (10-5 mol*L-1) and L-NNA (10-4 mol*L-1). CONCLUSION The significant hypotensive activity of EMs and their analogs is mainly associated with their vasodilatation, which is related to the release of NO from vascular endothelium, and their potency is not completely related to their affinity for μ-opiate receptor.