AIM： To examine the clinical characteristics of a subgroup of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and compare them to those with known risk factors. METHODS： We used the HCC database of 306 patients seen ...AIM： To examine the clinical characteristics of a subgroup of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and compare them to those with known risk factors. METHODS： We used the HCC database of 306 patients seen at our institution from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2001. Of the 306 patients, 63 （20%, group 1） had no known risk factors （hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, alcohol, hemochromatosis or cirrhosis from any cause） and 243 （group 2） had one or more risk factors. RESULTS： The median age was similar in both groups, but there were disproportionate numbers of younger （〈 30 years old）, older （〉 80 years） patients, women （33% vs 18%）, and Caucasians （81% vs 52%） in group 1 as compared to group 2. There were fewer Asians （2% vs 11%） and African Americans （13% vs 27%） in group 1. Abdominal pain （70% vs 37%） was more common while gastrointestinal bleeding （0% vs 11%） and ascites （4% vs17%） were less common in group i compared to group 2. Group 1 had larger tumor burden （median size 9.4 cm vs 5.7 cm） at the time of presentation, but there were no differences in the site （right, left or bilateral lesions）, or number of tumors between the two groups. CONCLUSION： HCC patients without identifiable risk factors have different characteristics and clinical presentation compared to those with known risk factors.Absence of cirrhosis and larger tumor burden may explain the differences in the presenting symptoms.展开更多
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics （AAP） recommends no ＂screen time＂ for children under age of two, parents in the US are ignoring this edict. Routinely, mothers are exposing their babies to media crafted...Although the American Academy of Pediatrics （AAP） recommends no ＂screen time＂ for children under age of two, parents in the US are ignoring this edict. Routinely, mothers are exposing their babies to media crafted specifically for this age group. This study seeks to ascertain the reason. What beliefs do mothers hold regarding the marketing of such media and the expected benefits to their young ones？ How does the use of videos such as Baby Einstein benefit the mother？ Although mothers reported that video creators want them to think the videos are educational, they are skeptical. However, they continue to let babies watch this ＂safe＂ content. Among the 28 mothers interviewed for this project, only four claimed to always watch with their child; the remainder used ＂video time＂ to do household chores. Overwhelmingly, mothers heard positive comments about videos from fellow parents, but rarely heard from their pediatricians about possible negative effects on the under-two＇ s.展开更多
Objective: Apios americana,a plant used as a staple ingredient of native American diets,has various properties,including anti-cancer,anti-hyperglycemic,hypotensive,and anti-inflammatory activity.In Japan,Apios is used...Objective: Apios americana,a plant used as a staple ingredient of native American diets,has various properties,including anti-cancer,anti-hyperglycemic,hypotensive,and anti-inflammatory activity.In Japan,Apios is used as a post-natal medication.After parturition,women undergo a period of recovery as they return to pre-pregnancy conditions.However,few health products that aid post-partum recovery are on the market.We explored whether Apios can accelerate the post-partum recovery process,in particular the involution of the uterus.Methods: Female rats kept in individual cages were mated with two male rats,with the exception of the control group(female rats without mating,on basal diet;n=6).After delivery,rats were divided into five groups based on their diet: basal diet(model;n=6);basal diet+oral intake at 5.4 g/kg of Chanfukang granules(a Chinese patent medicine preparation for post-partum lochia)(positive;n=6);basal diet containing 10% Apios powder(low;n=6);basal diet containing 20% Apios powder(medium;n=6);basal diet containing 40% Apios powder(high;n=6).Five days later,uteri and spleens were weighed.Uterus and spleen indices for each rat were calculated by dividing visceral weight by the total weight.Hormone and cytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Histological analysis of uteri was completed using hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining.Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and inhibitors in uteri was measured by western blotting.Results: Our results showed that Apios treatment reduced the post-partum uterus index and regulated the hormone concentrations.Moreover,we found that the process of uterine involution was accelerated,based on morphological changes in the uterus.In addition,our results indicated that Apios alleviated the inflammatory response induced by the involution process.Transforming growth factor β was also found to be regulated by Apios.There were significant downregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and upregulation of their inhibitors by Apios,which suggested that Apios increased the rate of the collagen clearance process.Conclusions: These results,based on experimental observations at the molecular and protein levels,verified our hypothesis that Apios can improve uterine involution,and demonstrated the potential application of Apios in post-partum care.展开更多
文摘AIM： To examine the clinical characteristics of a subgroup of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and compare them to those with known risk factors. METHODS： We used the HCC database of 306 patients seen at our institution from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2001. Of the 306 patients, 63 （20%, group 1） had no known risk factors （hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, alcohol, hemochromatosis or cirrhosis from any cause） and 243 （group 2） had one or more risk factors. RESULTS： The median age was similar in both groups, but there were disproportionate numbers of younger （〈 30 years old）, older （〉 80 years） patients, women （33% vs 18%）, and Caucasians （81% vs 52%） in group 1 as compared to group 2. There were fewer Asians （2% vs 11%） and African Americans （13% vs 27%） in group 1. Abdominal pain （70% vs 37%） was more common while gastrointestinal bleeding （0% vs 11%） and ascites （4% vs17%） were less common in group i compared to group 2. Group 1 had larger tumor burden （median size 9.4 cm vs 5.7 cm） at the time of presentation, but there were no differences in the site （right, left or bilateral lesions）, or number of tumors between the two groups. CONCLUSION： HCC patients without identifiable risk factors have different characteristics and clinical presentation compared to those with known risk factors.Absence of cirrhosis and larger tumor burden may explain the differences in the presenting symptoms.
文摘Although the American Academy of Pediatrics （AAP） recommends no ＂screen time＂ for children under age of two, parents in the US are ignoring this edict. Routinely, mothers are exposing their babies to media crafted specifically for this age group. This study seeks to ascertain the reason. What beliefs do mothers hold regarding the marketing of such media and the expected benefits to their young ones？ How does the use of videos such as Baby Einstein benefit the mother？ Although mothers reported that video creators want them to think the videos are educational, they are skeptical. However, they continue to let babies watch this ＂safe＂ content. Among the 28 mothers interviewed for this project, only four claimed to always watch with their child; the remainder used ＂video time＂ to do household chores. Overwhelmingly, mothers heard positive comments about videos from fellow parents, but rarely heard from their pediatricians about possible negative effects on the under-two＇ s.
基金Project supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.LZ14C200001)
文摘Objective: Apios americana,a plant used as a staple ingredient of native American diets,has various properties,including anti-cancer,anti-hyperglycemic,hypotensive,and anti-inflammatory activity.In Japan,Apios is used as a post-natal medication.After parturition,women undergo a period of recovery as they return to pre-pregnancy conditions.However,few health products that aid post-partum recovery are on the market.We explored whether Apios can accelerate the post-partum recovery process,in particular the involution of the uterus.Methods: Female rats kept in individual cages were mated with two male rats,with the exception of the control group(female rats without mating,on basal diet;n=6).After delivery,rats were divided into five groups based on their diet: basal diet(model;n=6);basal diet+oral intake at 5.4 g/kg of Chanfukang granules(a Chinese patent medicine preparation for post-partum lochia)(positive;n=6);basal diet containing 10% Apios powder(low;n=6);basal diet containing 20% Apios powder(medium;n=6);basal diet containing 40% Apios powder(high;n=6).Five days later,uteri and spleens were weighed.Uterus and spleen indices for each rat were calculated by dividing visceral weight by the total weight.Hormone and cytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Histological analysis of uteri was completed using hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining.Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and inhibitors in uteri was measured by western blotting.Results: Our results showed that Apios treatment reduced the post-partum uterus index and regulated the hormone concentrations.Moreover,we found that the process of uterine involution was accelerated,based on morphological changes in the uterus.In addition,our results indicated that Apios alleviated the inflammatory response induced by the involution process.Transforming growth factor β was also found to be regulated by Apios.There were significant downregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and upregulation of their inhibitors by Apios,which suggested that Apios increased the rate of the collagen clearance process.Conclusions: These results,based on experimental observations at the molecular and protein levels,verified our hypothesis that Apios can improve uterine involution,and demonstrated the potential application of Apios in post-partum care.
