Translation and validation of a Chinese version of the pancreatitis quality of life instrument (PANQOLI) in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

PURPOSE: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a chronic fibroinflammatory pancreatic disease that severely impacts patients' quality of life (QoL). The Pancreatitis Quality of Life Instrument (PANQOLI) is an 18-item measure specifically designed to assess QoL amongst patients with CP. This study aimed to develop a Chinese version of PANQOLI and assess its reliability and validity in the Chinese CP cohort. METHODS: Translation was performed according to forward-backwards translation steps and transcultural adaptation. Five hundred Mandarin Chinese-speaking patients with CP were enrolled, 250 for the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and 250 for the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Item analysis, reliability analysis (internal consistency, split-half reliability, test-retest reliability), and validity analysis (content validity, construct validity, and convergent validity) were performed. RESULTS: Item analysis of the Chinese version of PANQOLI revealed that the absolute t values of all items were > 3. Reliability analysis showed that Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.868, split-half coefficient was 0.934, and intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.859, demonstrating excellent reliability. For content validity, item level content validity index (I-CVI) ranged from 0.8 to 1.0, and average of I-CVI scores across all items (S-CVI/Ave) was 0.91. In construct validity analysis, EFA produced four dimensions after rotation, and results of CFA showed χ2/df = 2.346, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.929, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.915, and root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.074. The analysis of convergent validity indicated that the Chinese version of PANQOLI was moderately correlated with the physical (r = 0.436, P < 0.001) and mental component summary (r = 0.518, P < 0.001) of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of PANQOLI appears to be culturally appropriate, reliable, and valid for assessing the QoL amongst Chinese patients with CP.

Long non-coding RNA DILC suppresses bladder cancer cells progression.

Accumulative researches have demonstrated the critical functions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of malignant tumors, including bladder cancer (BC). Our previous studies showed that lnc-DILC was an important tumor suppressor gene in both liver cancer and colorectal cancer. However, the role of lnc-DILC in BC remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we for first found that lnc-DILC was downregulated in human bladder cancer tissues. Lnc-DILC overexpression suppressed the proliferation, metastasis and expansion of bladder cancer stem cells (CSCs). Mechanically, lnc-DILC suppressed BC cells progression via STAT3 pathway. Special STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 diminished the discrepancy of growth, metastasis and self-renewal ability between lnc-DILC-overexpression BC cells and their control cells, which further confirmed that STAT3 was acquired for lnc-DILC-disrupted BC cell growth, metastasis and self-renewal. Taken together, our results suggest that lnc-DILC is a novel bladder tumor suppressor and indicate that lnc-DILC inhibits BC progression via inactivating STAT3 signaling.

Role of acetylcholinesterase in lung cancer.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) plays a key role in catalytic hydrolysis of cholinergic neurotransmitters. Intensive research has proven the involvement of this protein in novel functions, such as cell adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation. In addition, several recent studies have indicated that acetylcholinesterase is potentially a marker and regulator of apoptosis. Importantly, AChE is also a promising tumor suppressor. In this review, we briefly summarize the involvement of AChE in apoptosis and cancer, focusing on the role of AChE in lung cancer, as well as the therapeutic consideration of AChE for cancer therapy.

Pediatric burns due to hot water from water dispenser: a neglected issue that should be highly concerned.

BACKGROUND: More and more Chinese drink hot water from water dispensers while many children were scalded due to this change. The present study aimed to propose a feasible strategy for prevention. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted for all water dispensers related pediatric burns admitted to Changhai Hospital from January 2005 to December 2009. RESULTS: The number of new cases and incidences of pediatric burns due to hot water from water dispensers was significantly increasing year after year. In the total 238 involved cases, 175 cases happened on males and 78.9% were at the age of 1 - 4 years. The burn areas were mainly located in upper extremities. All water dispensers in the surveyed families had no isolate protection devices and 85.2% of their locations were easy for children to reach. Nearly half of the children were in the same room with their guardians when injured. Total 196 burned children were playing the taps of water dispensers before injured, unfortunately, 80.6% of them have not been stopped until burned. CONCLUSION: As the kind of burns is quite serious and with bad outcome, some recommendations should be followed, such as buying water dispensers with protection devices, keeping children from touching them and so on.

Unplanned decannulation of tracheotomy tube in massive burn patients: a retrospective case series study.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned extubation is associated with adverse outcomes in intensive care unit. The massive burn patient differs from other critically ill patients in many ways. However, little is known about the unplanned decannulation (UD) in Burn Intensive Care Unit. This paper describes the special features of the circumstances and outcome of UD of tracheotomy tube in massive burn patients. METHODS: A case series study was performed between January 1999 and December 2008 and UD of tracheotomy tube was analyzed retrospectively. A total of 21 patients with 29 UD events were identified. Demographic data, diagnosis, intervention, UD events and outcome of UD patients were collected. Differences in proportions were compared using the chi-square (χ(2)) or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Patients with UD were often burned with head and neck (67%) and combined with inhalation injury (62%). The majority of them (76%) were transferred patients, occurred early (55%) and were accidental UD (79%). UD events tended to happen in day shift (90%) and to be associated with the medical procedure that was performing by caregivers at besides (79%). Loose of the stabilizing rope, medical procedure and tracheotomy malposition were the main causes of UD. Early UD and reintubation failure were associated with patients' death. CONCLUSIONS: UD happened to massive burn patients can lead to patient death. Careful management of respiratory tract was essential for massive burn patients.