The SF‐36v2 and SF‐12v2 health surveys in New Zealand: norms,scoring coefficients and cross‐country comparisons

Objective : To provide New Zealand population norms for version 2 of the SF‐36 and SF‐12 health surveys and report scoring coefficients that enable the construction of Physical and Mental Component Summary scores from New Zealand SF‐36v2 and SF‐12v2 data. Approach : Norms for the SF‐36v2 and scoring coefficients for the Physical and Mental Component Summary scores are estimated using 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey data, which included 12,488 adults (aged 15 years and over). Norms for the SF‐12v2 are derived from 2008 New Zealand General Social Survey data, including 8,721 adults. Comparisons are made between New Zealand norms for versions 1 and 2 of the SF‐36 instrument. In addition, New Zealand SF‐36v2 and SF‐12v2 norms and the scoring coefficients are compared with those for the United States and South Australia. Conclusion : Differences between: 1) New Zealand population norms for the SF‐36 versions 1 and 2; and 2) SF‐36v2 and SF‐12v2 population norms for New Zealand and those for the United States and South Australia highlight the importance of using version‐specific and country‐specific population norms. Implications: The analysis reported here allows for the appropriate use of the SF‐36v2 and SF‐12v2 instruments in New Zealand.     

HPLC指纹图谱控制复方丹参片质量

目的采用双定性双定量相似度作为评价指标,建立复方丹参片(CSMT)HPLC指纹图谱的全质量控制方法。方法采用RP-HPLC法以Century SIL C18BDS柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm);以色谱指纹图谱指数F为目标函数优化选择指纹图谱检测条件,确定流动相组成是质量分数为1%的醋酸水溶液-质量分数为1%的醋酸甲醇溶液低压梯度洗脱,紫外检测波长290 nm,柱温(30.00±0.15)℃,进样量5μL。以双定性相似度均值和双定量相似度均值为参量通过对20批复方丹参片进行系统聚类分析确定用其中10批生成复方丹参片对照指纹图谱(RFP),以此RFP为标准对总计20批复方丹参片采用双定性双定量相似度法进行质量评价。结果以丹酚酸B(SAB)为参照物峰,确定40个指纹峰,建立了复方丹参片HPLC指纹图谱。用双定性相似度评价15批样品的化学成分数量和分布比例都合格,但其中仅8批双定量相似度合格,为质量完全合格品。其它7批含量明显偏低,生产时应根据双定量相似度偏低程度提高投料量或者适当增大服用剂量。其余5批都存在化学成分和分布比例不合格特征,有2批含量相似度合格和3批含量相似度明显偏低。结论在OTC中随机选择的20批复方丹参片,无明显的劣质品出现,若按指纹图谱技术控制则出现明显的质量差异,因此所建立的具有较好精密度和重现性的复方丹参片的HPLC指纹图谱,完全适用于复方丹参片的生产质量控制。试验证明了双定性双定量相似度法是宏观定性定量评价中药复方制剂质量的最理想和最客观的指纹图谱评价技术。     

SF椎弓根内固定系统治疗胸腰段骨折中期疗效评价

目的评价椎弓根螺钉内固定系统治疗胸腰段骨折的中期疗效。方法2001年7月至2003年7月间采用SF椎弓根螺钉内固定系统治疗胸腰段骨折36例。部分患者行椎管减压,横突间植骨融合。结果经术后平均3.72年的随访,与术前比较,术后、拆除内植物前及末次随访时的Cobb角及椎体前、后缘高度均存有非常显著性差异（P〈0.01）。本组患者脊髓损伤分级评判,除一例完全性瘫痪患者术后无功能恢复外,其余患者均获得了不同程度的功能恢复。结论SF椎弓根内固定系统治疗胸腰段骨折,固定牢靠,间接复位能使突入椎管腔内的伤椎椎体后壁精确复位,使椎管有效减压。但中期随访发现,仍存在椎间盘退变及矫正度丢失的情况,影响术后长期疗效。     

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Japanese Women With Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common disease in females of childbearing age. Although iron supplementation quickly improves laboratory-measured parameters, its effect on health-related quality of life is unknown. Here, we conducted a prospective follow-up study to evaluate health-related quality of life in pre-menopausal women diagnosed with IDA. A convenience sample of 92 patients who visited Tokai University Hospital and three other affiliated hospitals were asked to fill out the Medical Outcome Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) during the course of treatment (baseline, and 1 and 3 months after the start of treatment). At baseline, vitality and general health scores were significantly lower than the Japanese national norms. After the start of therapy, however, a significant improvement was seen in all domain scores except role emotional (RE), and at 3 months all eight scores were comparable to or greater than the national norms. In particular, physical functioning and vitality scores of patients with a lower hemoglobin level ( < 9.0 g/dl) at baseline showed a dramatic improvement. Iron supplementation in IDA patients improves not only hemoglobin levels, but also physical function, vitality, and general health perception. Address for correspondence: Kiyoshi Ando, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan Phone: +81-463-93-1121; Fax: +81-463-92-4511 E-mail: andok@keyaki.cc.u-tokai.ac.jp     

灯盏细辛注射液对2型糖尿病并发末梢神经炎血液流变学与血脂改变的影响

[目的]观察分析灯盏细辛注射液治疗2型糖尿病并发末梢神经炎的血液流变学及血脂变化。[方法]治疗组应用灯盏细辛注射液滴注,对照组应用氢溴酸山莨菪硷注射滴注,观察临床症状、血液流变学、血脂、神经传导速度等变化。[结果]治疗组治疗后全血黏度、血球压积、纤维蛋白元明显低于治疗前,有显著性差异,P<0.01;治疗组治疗后甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-c)均有降低,有显著性差异P<0.05,高密度脂蛋白(HDL-c)有所增高,但增高不明显P>0.05;治疗组总有效率88.64%,优于对照组,有显著性差异P<0.01;治疗组腓神经运动和感觉传导速度改善明显P<0.05。[结论]灯盏细辛注射液显著改善2型糖尿病并发末梢神经炎患者的血液流变性及脂代谢,治疗2糖尿病并末梢神经炎临床疗效肯定。     

Self-assessed health, sadness and happiness in relation to the total burden of symptoms from the lower urinary tract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on self-assessed health, sadness and happiness of men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 504 men (aged 40-80 years) in the rural community of Surahammar, Sweden, who a year earlier had reported stress incontinence, urgency or postvoid dribbling in answer to a postal questionnaire, and 504 age-matched control men from the same community. The occurrence of 12 specific LUTS was rated using the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score. Health, sadness and happiness were measured by three questions from the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 health survey questionnaire. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned by 74.2% of men (748/1008). A low score for health was reported by 34% of men with one to four LUTS, by 67% with five to eight, and by 75% with nine or more LUTS. The total LUTS burden correlated with lower scores for happiness and with higher scores for sadness. For each of the 12 specific LUTS, men with the symptom had lower scores for health and happiness, and higher scores for sadness, than men without the symptom. Comparing men with the symptom of 'other incontinence' to men with no 'other incontinence', the relative risk (95% confidence interval) of impaired health was 2.2 (1.8-2.8), while that of a high score for happiness was 0.5 (0.3-0.7) and that of greater sadness was 2.3 (1.7-3.3). Social status, marital status, education, smoking, physical activity and urinary tract infection all affected the impact of LUTS. CONCLUSIONS: The total burden of LUTS is related to self-assessed health, sadness and happiness.     

Evaluation of the medical and surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective, randomised, controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: To conduct the first prospective, randomized, controlled trial evaluating and comparing the medical and surgical treatment of polypoid and nonpolypoid chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients with CRS were equally randomized either to medical or surgical therapy. All patients underwent pre- and posttreatment assessments of visual analogue score (VAS), the Sinonasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20), the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), nitric oxide (NO), acoustic rhinometry, saccharine clearance time (SCT), and nasal endoscopy. Each patient had three assessments: before starting the treatment, after 6 months, and, finally, after 1 year. RESULTS: Both the medical and surgical treatment of CRS significantly improved almost all the subjective and objective parameters of CRS (P <.01), with no significant difference being found between the medical and surgical groups (P >.05), except for the total nasal volume in CRS (P <.01) and CRS without polyposis (P <.01) groups, in which the surgical treatment demonstrated greater changes. CONCLUSION: CRS should be initially targeted with maximal medical therapy (e.g., a 3 month course of a macrolide antibiotic, douche, and topical steroid), with surgical treatment being reserved for cases refractory to medical therapy. The presence of nasal polyps is not a poor prognostic factor for the efficacy of CRS therapy, either surgical or medical.     

Targeting the HGF/SF receptor c-met using a hammerhead ribozyme transgene reduces in vitro invasion and migration in prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor scatter factor (HGF/SF) elicits a number of biological activities including invasion and migration through activation of its tyrosine kinase receptor c-Met. Over expression of c-Met has been implicated in prostate cancer development and progression. This study examined the effect of a ribozyme transgene, designed to inhibit human c-Met expression, and its impact on in vitro invasion and migration in prostate cancer. METHODS: A transgene (Met 560) consisting of U1 snRNA, hammerhead ribozyme, and antisense was cloned into a modified pZeoU1-EcoSpe vector and transfected into DU-145 cells. The effect of HGF/SF was tested on prostate cancer cells whose expression of c-Met had been blocked by way of a ribozyme transgene. RESULTS: Met 560 stable transfectants (DU-145(+/+)) manifested a complete loss of c-Met expression at mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, control plasmid (DU-145(+/-)) and wild-type DU-145 cells (DU-145(-/-)) had similar levels of c-Met expression. HGF/SF significantly increased the in vitro invasiveness (mean 47.71 +/- SE 7.75; P < 0.01 vs. control 24.14 +/- 1.34), and migration (mean 48.44 +/- SE 3.51; P < 0.01 vs. control 22.95 +/- 1.47) of DU-145(-/-) cells, respectively. Similarly, HGF/SF also increased the invasion (62.33 +/- 6.34; P < 0.001 vs. control 24.5 +/- 2.35) and migration (46.14 +/- 2.26; P < 0.01 vs. control 21.82 +/- 1.62) of DU-145(+/-) cells. In contrast, DU-145(+/+) cells had lost its response to HGF/SF induced invasion (22.33 +/- 2.08; P > 0.05 vs. control 23.5 +/- 2.11) and migration (24.12 +/- 0.86; P > 0.05 vs. control 23.27 +/- 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Targeting the HGF/SF receptor by way of a hammerhead ribozyme encoding antisense to c-Met, is an effective method to reduce the invasive or migration potential in prostate cancer, and may have important therapeutic implications.     

Australian implantable cardiac defibrillator recipients: quality-of-life issues

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have become a well-established therapy for people experiencing potentially lethal dysrhythmias. Australian recipients' quality of life and adjustment to the device over time, device-related complications, shock and associated sensations, and potential sequelae have not been widely explored. This paper reports a longitudinal prospective study of Australian ICD recipients (n = 74) to determine their responses to the device, health-related quality of life over time and shock experiences. A questionnaire designed for the study and the Medical Outcomes Trust Quality of Life Instrument, the SF36, were completed by recipients prior to and at 3 and 12 months post insertion. Results show that quality of life decreased for general health and social function between 3 and 12 months. Nearly half (49%) of the recipients received shocks within 12 months and the majority (92%) of these experienced sequelae that could make driving hazardous. Half of the population (49%) were driving at 3 months and 69% by 12 months, including 67% of those who had been shocked. Twenty-seven percent were hospitalized with device-related complications. Driving, the shock experience and rehospitalization, the shock experience and driving behaviour are significant issues for those with the implanted device. While it is a limitation of the study that partners and carers were not included, these findings will also be of interest to them.     

Isodiospyrin as a novel human DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor

Isodiospyrin is a natural product from the plant Diospyros morrisiana, which consists of an asymmetrical 1,2-binaphthoquinone chromophore. Isodiospyrin exhibits cytotoxic activity to tumor cell lines but very little is known about its cellular target and mechanism of action. Unlike the prototypic human topoisomerase I (htopo I) poison camptothecin, isodiospyrin does not induce htopo I-DNA covalent complexes. However, isodiospyrin antagonizes camptothecin-induced, htopo I-mediated DNA cleavage. Binding analysis indicated that isodiospyrin binds htopo I but not DNA. These results suggest that isodiospyrin inhibits htopo I by direct binding to htopo I, which limits htopo I access to the DNA substrate. Furthermore, isodiospyrin exhibits strong inhibitory effect on the kinase activity of htopo I toward splicing factor 2/alternate splicing factor in the absence of DNA. Thus, these findings have important implications on naphthoquinone and its derivatives' cellular mode of actions, i.e. these novel DNA topoisomerase I inhibitors can prevent both DNA relaxation and kinase activities of htopo I.