Pharmacy and nursing students' attitudes toward nurse-pharmacist collaboration at a Chinese university.

BACKGROUND: The collaborative working relationship of nurses with pharmacists has increasingly captured considerable attention. This study measured pharmacy and nursing students' attitudes toward nurse-pharmacist collaboration at a university in China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the attitudes toward nurse-pharmacist collaboration using a self-developed scale delivered to a sample involving 202 nursing students and 258 pharmacy students enrolled in Wuhan University of Science and Technology. RESULTS: Completed instruments were returned by 192 nursing students (95.0% effective response rate) and 249 pharmacy students (96.5% effective response rate). The average students' score of attitudes toward nurse-pharmacist collaboration was 78.85 out of a total of 100. No significance was found for the attitudes toward nurse-pharmacist collaboration between two professions or between gender. The college freshmen (first-year) students had the maximum scores suggesting the most positive attitude toward nurse-pharmacist collaboration, followed by second- and third-year students, while final-year (fourth-year) students had the least. CONCLUSION: The students had somewhat positive attitudes toward nurse-pharmacist collaboration, but there is still room for improvement.

Genetic heterogeneity of the ß-globin gene in various geographic populations of Yunnan in southwestern China.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the geographic distribution of ß-globin gene mutations in different ethnic groups in Yunnan province. METHODS: From 2004 to 2014, 1,441 subjects with hemoglobin disorders, identified by PCR-reverse dot blot and DNA sequencing, were studied according to ethnicity and geographic origin. Haplotypes were examined among 41 unrelated thalassemia chromosomes. RESULTS: Eighteen ß-thalassemia mutations and seven hemoglobin variants were identified for 1,616 alleles in 22 different ethnic groups from all 16 prefecture-level divisions of Yunnan. The prevalence of ß-thalassemia was heterogeneous and regionally specific. CD 41-42 (-TCTT) was the most prevalent mutation in the populations of northeastern Yunnan. CD 17 (A>T) was the most common mutation in the populations of southeastern Yunnan, especially for the Zhuang minority, whereas Hb E (CD 26, G>A) was the most prevalent mutation in populations of southwestern Yunnan, especially for the Dai minority. Among the seven types of haplotypes identified, CD 17 (A>T) was mainly linked to haplotype VII (+ - - - - - +) and IVS-II-654 (C>T) was only linked to haplotype I (+ - - - - + +). CONCLUSION: Our data underline the heterogeneity of ß-globin gene mutations in Yunnan. This distribution of ß-globin mutations in the geographic regions and ethnic populations provided a detailed ethnic basis and evolutionary view of humans in southern China, which will be beneficial for genetic counseling and prevention strategies.

Using phonocardiography to investigate maternal cardiac reserve function in gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia.

AIM: This study used phonocardiography to investigate maternal cardiac reserve function in gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia. METHOD: Ninety-nine pregnant women with gestational hypertension (50 cases) and pre-eclampsia (49 cases) were included in the study; 99 normotensive pregnant women acted as controls. Using phonocardiography, cardiac reserve function parameters for all participants were recorded: heart rate, the ratio of the first heart sound magnitude to the second heart sound magnitude (S1/S2) and the ratio of the diastolic duration to the systolic duration (D/S). RESULTS: The average values for S1/S2 in the pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension groups were 4.3±2.2 and 2.2±1.1 respectively. The average D/S of the pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension groups were 1.1±0.3 and 1.4±0.3 respectively. Cases of postnatal adverse maternal outcomes were only observed in the pre-eclampsia group. A small proportion (2 out of 28) suffered cardiac-related complications, with one of these two patients dying from cardiac failure. Both these cases had notably poor cardiac reserve function (S1/S2>5.00 and D/S<1) before delivery. The index S1/S2 increases and the index D/S decreases with increasing severity of hypertension-complicated pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that cardiac reserve function declines with the increasing severity of hypertension during pregnancy. Phonocardiography is a useful, convenient and clinically worthwhile technique to monitor cardiac reserve function parameters of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia.

The spectrum of α- and ß-thalassemia mutations in Yunnan Province of Southwestern China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the spectrum of thalassemia mutations in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. We detected 450 thalassemia patients and carriers by multiplex gap polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR), PCR reverse dot-blot hybridization and direct sequencing methods in 535 suspected patients. Four types of α-thalassemia (α-thal) mutations, - -(SEA) (59.2%), -α(3.7) (rightward) (19.0%), Hb Constant Spring [Hb CS, α142, Term→Gln, TAA>CAA (α2), α(CS)α] (15.5%), and -α(4.2) (leftward) (6.34%) were detected. Six types of ß-thal mutations, the most prevalent being Hb E [ß26(B8)Glu→Lys, GAG>AAG or codon 26 (G>A)] (30.5%), followed by codon 17 (A>T) (20.8%), codons 41/42 (-TCTT) (17.5%), IVS-II-654 (C>T) (17.2%), -28 (A>G) (6.95%), and codons 71/72 (+A) (2.42%) were also detected. Other rare mutations were codons 27/28 (+C), IVS-I-1 (G>T), Hb New York [ß113(G15)Val→Glu, GTG>GAG], Hb D-Los Angeles [ß121(GH4)Glu→Gln, GAA>CAA], codon 5 (-CT), Hb G-Taipei [ß22(B4)Glu→Glu (GAA>GGA)], Hb J-Lome [ß59(E3)Lys→Asn (AAG>AAC)], Hb J-Bangkok [ß56(D7)Gly→Asp (GGC>GAC)], IVS-I-2 (T>C), and -31 (A>C). In this study, we provide a complete mutation spectrum of α- and ß-thal mutations and a valuable strategy for accurate molecular diagnostic testing in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China (PRC).

[Clinical analysis of cardiac reserve function and outcome of preeclampsia.].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cardiac reserve function and pregnant results of preeclampsia. METHODS: Pregnant women chosen by randomized table and hospitalized in the department of obstetrics of the first affiliated hospital of Chongqing Medical University were involved in this study from January to December, 2008. Sixty-nine cases of normal pregnant women were divided into 3 groups: normal group 1 (20 cases), normal group 2 (26 cases) and normal group 3 (23 cases). The normal group number 1 to number 3 were paired to gestational hypertension (20 cases), mild preeclampsia (26 cases) and severe preeclampsia (23 cases), respectively. The digital technique of heart sound signal processing was used to measure cardiac reserve function parameters including the heart rate (HR), the ratio of the amplitude of the first heart sound to the second heart sound (S1/S2) and the ratio of diastolic to systolic duration (D/S) of pregnant women. The pregnant results were also recorded. RESULTS: (1) The ratio of S1/S2 in the group of severe preeclampsia 4.5 +/- 3.2 was significantly higher than the group of gestational hypertension 2.2 +/- 1.1 and normal group 3 2.2 +/- 1.1 (P < 0.01). The ratio of D/S of the group of severe preeclampsia 1.1 +/- 0.3 was significantly lower than the group of gestational hypertension 1.4 +/- 0.3 and normal group 3 1.4 +/- 0.2 (P < 0.01). (2) All cases of the normal group number 1 to number 3 and the group of gestational hypertension were found the ratio of D/S >/= 1.00, whereas 1 case (1/26, 4%) of the group of mild preeclampsia and 4 cases (4/23, 17%) of the group of severe preeclampsia were found the ratio of D/S < 1.00. (3) The two cases of the pregnant women (including one woman died of cardiac arrest) with S1/S2 > 5.00 and D/S < 1.00, who were in the group of severe preeclampsia, were sent to Intensive Care Unit after delivery. There were 4 cases (4/26, 15%) and 6 cases (6/23, 26%) of 1 minute Apgar score less than 7, 7 cases (7/26, 27%) and 6 cases (6/23, 26%) sent to neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 2 cases (2/26, 8%) and 4 cases (4/23, 17%) of neonatal death in the group of mild preeclampsia and in the group of severe preeclampsia, respectively. All newborns in the normal group number 1 to number 3 and the group of gestational hypertension were normal. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiac reserve function of a pregnant woman with preeclampsia is decreased with the severity of preeclampsia and the parturient and neonatal results get worse. The digital technique of heart sound signal processing is a safe, harmless, simple and effective tool to measure cardiac reserve function of preeclampsia, and is worthy of widely used clinically.

[Expression of fusion protein encoding EGFP-EGF1 of rat coagulation factor VII and its binding function].

This study was aimed at clarification of the function of EGF(1) segment in rat coagulation factor VII with tissue factor (TF) by means of the expression of the fusion protein of EGFP-EGF(1). The DNA fragment encoding EGF(1) was amplified from a rat liver tissue by RT-PCR, and then inserted in an EGFP-procaryotic expression vector to construct the recombinant plasmid pET28a-EGFP-EGF(1) which was introduced into the competent cells of E.coli BL21, then an engineering bacteria strain was obtained which was induced by IPTG to express the fusion protein of EGFP-EGF(1). The fusion protein was purified by chromatography on Ni column, and then acted on the rat hemangioendotheliocytes stimulated with LPS to express TF; the binding of the fusion protein to the hemangioendotheliocytes was detected by means of fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The results indicated that EGFP-EGF(1) was highly expressed in the engineering E.coli strain, and successfully purified, and its molecular mass was confirmed as 36 kD by SDS-PAGE. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry had shown that this fusion protein can bind with the TF on the hemangioendotheliocytes. It is concluded that the EGF(1) region of rat coagulation factor can mediate the specific binding of FVII with TF, so as to lay partly the basis for molecular targeting anti-thrombotic therapy.

Epidermal growth factor receptor antibody plus recombinant human endostatin in treatment of hepatic metastases after remnant gastric cancer resection.

We report a 55-year-old male who developed advanced hepatic metastasis and peritoneal carcinomatosis after resection of remnant gastric cancer resection 3 mo ago. The patient only received epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor antibody (Cetuximab) plus recombinant human endostatin (Endostar). Anti-tumor activity was assessed by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) at baseline and then every 4 wk. The case illustrates that (18)FDG-PET/CT could make an early prediction of the response to Cetuximab plus Endostar in such clinical situations. (18)FDG-PET/CT is a useful molecular imaging modality to evaluate the biological response advanced hepatic metastasis and peritoneal carcinomatosis to Cetuximab plus Endostar in patients after remnant gastric cancer resection.

[A randomized controlled trail of taxol-based combination regimens for advanced gastric cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Standard chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer remains undefined. Phase II trials show that taxol is effective in treating advanced gastric cancer. This multi-center prospective open randomized controlled study was to compare the efficacy of Taxol plus calcium folinate (CF)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU), Taxol plus oxaliplatin (OXA), and CF/5-FU plus cisplatin (DDP) on advanced gastric cancer, and analyze their toxicities. METHODS: Patients with measurable unresectable and/or metastatic gastric carcinoma were randomized into CF/5-FU+DDP (control), CF/5-FU + Taxol, and Taxol + OXA groups, and received up to 8 cycles of chemotherapy. Treatment efficacy and adverse events were evaluated according to WHO criteria. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were enrolled from May 2002 to May 2004, and randomized into the 3 groups; each group contained 60 patients. Of the 180 patients, 14 received 2 cycles of chemotherapy, 49 received 4 cycles, and 103 received 8 cycles. Treatment outcomes of 166 cases were evaluable. The response rate (RR) of naive patients or the patients with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in CF/5-FU+Taxol and Taxol+OXA groups than in control group (50.00% and 80.00% vs. 20.75%, P<0.05; 65.96% and 85.71% vs. 36.36%, P<0.05). But the RR of the patients with liver metastasis was similar among the 3 groups (28.57% and 39.13% vs. 34.62%, P>0.05). The occurrence rates of nausea/vomiting, anepithymia, stomatitis, and kidney damage were lower in study groups than in control group, but the occurrence rates of myelosuppression and peripheral nerve damage were higher in study groups than in control group. Allergic response occurred in 7 (5.88%) patients in study group, and 3 (2.52%) of them were serious. There was no treatment-related death. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its hematotoxicity, the treatment efficacy of Taxol-based combination regimens on advanced gastric cancer is better than that of CF/5-FU + DDP regimen with tolerable toxicities. We recommend Taxol-based combination regimens as first-line regimens for advanced gastric cancer.