Biomedical subjects

Zhe Tang

Publications and source records attributed to Zhe Tang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

High operative risk of cool-tip radiofrequency ablation for unresectable pancreatic head cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To report and discuss the effect, complications and mortality of cool-tip radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for unresectable pancreatic cancer. METHODS: During October 2003 to July 2004, sixteen patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer were treated by open cool-tip RFA. One-half of the 16 patients had tumors located in the pancreatic head. A 5-mm minimum safe distance between RFA site and major peripancreatic vessels was kept to avoid injury to the vessels. RESULTS: Six of twelve patients with back pain got pain relief postoperatively. Pancreatic fistula occurred in three patients (18.8%) and healed smoothly in 7-10 days with routine abdominal drainage. The mortality was 25% (4/16). In the four death cases, tumors were all located in the pancreatic head; three patients with tumor close to portal vein died suddenly of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage on the 4th, 30th, 40th postoperative day respectively and a 79-year-old patient died of acute renal failure on the 2nd postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: Standard use of cool-tip RFA was dangerous for pancreatic head cancer close to portal vein, in which a 5-mm minimum safe distance between RFA site and major peripancreatic vessels might not be enough to avoid injury to the vessels.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed2005

Association between acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase gene and risk for Alzheimer's disease in Chinese.

There is a compelling body of evidence indicating an association between cholesterol and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), an endoplasmic-reticulum-resident enzyme that catalyses the formation of cholesteryl esters (CEs) from cholesterol and long-chain fatty acids, modulates the generation of beta amyloid peptide (Abeta). A single nucleotide polymorphism rs1044925 in the sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1), the gene encoding ACAT1, has been reported to be association with an increased risk for sporadic AD (SAD) in European population. In the present study, we examined the association of the SOAT1 rs1044925 polymorphism with SAD in our northern Han-Chinese (107 cases, 118 age and gender-matched controls) sample using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. There was no genotypic (chi(2)=0.030, OR 0.942, 95% CI=0.478-1.857) or allelic (chi(2)=0.021, OR 0.955, 95% CI=0.508-1.794) association between SAD and controls, even when the data were stratified by APOEvarepsilon4 carrier status. Our results indicate that the polymorphism rs1044925 in the 3'UTR of SOAT1 gene does not affect the risk of SAD in the northern Han-Chinese.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

PubMed2005

Band structure and oscillatory electron-phonon coupling of Pb thin films determined by atomic-layer-resolved quantum-well states.

Using a low temperature growth method, we have prepared atomically flat Pb thin films over a wide range of film thickness on a Si-(111)-7 x 7 surface. The Pb film morphology and electronic structure are investigated in situ by scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Well-defined and atomic-layer-resolved quantum-well states of the Pb films are used to determine the band structure and the electron-phonon coupling constant (lambda) of the films. We found an oscillatory behavior of lambda with an oscillation periodicity of two atomic layers. Almost all essential features in the Pb/Si(111) system, such as the growth mode, the oscillatory film stability, and the 9 monolayer envelope beating pattern, can be explained by our results in terms of the electron confinement in Pb films.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

[Effects of all-trans retinoic acid on expression of connexin genes and gap junction communication in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the expression of connexin 26, 32 and 43 genes and the alteration of gap junction communication function in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell of the lines SMMC-7721 and BEL-7404 were cultured in normal medium and medium containing ATRA at a concentration of 10(-5) mol/L for 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. RT-PCR procedure was adopted to detect the mRNA expression of CX 26, 32 and 43. Scrape-loading and dye transfer procedure was performed to examine the gap junction communication function. RESULTS: CX26 mRNA and CX32 mRNA were not expressed in the cell lines SMMC-7721, however, expression of CX26 mRNA and expression of CX32 mRNA were found 48 and 72 hours after being induction by ATRA respectively. CX26 mRNA and CX32 mRNA were not expressed in the cell lines BEL-7404, however, expression of CX26 mRNA and expression of CX32 mRNA were found 48 hours after induction by ATRA. Expression of CX43 mRNA was found in all cells, whether being induced by ATRA or not. Scrape-loading and dye transfer procedure showed that lucifer yellow was seen in only 1-2 lines by the delimited mark in the untreated SMMC-7721 cells and in 3-4 lines by the delimited mark in the SMMC-7721 cells treated by ATRA. But no dye transfer phenomenon was found in the BEL-7404 cells whether they were ATRA-treated or not. CONCLUSION: ATRA is able to affect the expression of CX26 and CX32 in HCC cell lines SMMC-7721 and BEL-7404 by acting at the transcription level. Reinforcement of gap junction communication function is found in the SMMC-7721 cells and not in the BEL-7404 cells, which shows that ATRA modulates the gap junction intercellular communication, by acting in different mechanisms.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2005

Expression and significance of heparanase and nm23-H1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To explore the relation between heparanase (HPA) and nm23-H1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and whether they could be used as valuable markers in predicting post-operative metastasis and recurrence of HCC. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry (S-P method) were used to measure the expressions of HPA mRNA and nm23-H1 protein in primary tumor tissue and paracancerous tissue of 33 cases of HCC. Paracancerous tissues of 9 cases of benign liver tumor were used as normal controls. The results were analyzed in combination with the results of clinicopathological examination and follow-up. RESULTS: The positive expression of HPA gene was significantly higher in primary tumor tissues of HCC (48.5%, 16/33) as compared to the paracancerous tissues of HCC and normal controls (3.03%, 1/33) (P < 0.01). HPA expression was not related with the size of tumor, envelope formation, AFP level, HBsAg state and cirrhosis of liver. The positive rates of HPA mRNA in the group with high tendency to metastasis or recurrence and in the group with metastasis or recurrence during the follow-up were significantly higher than those in the group with low tendency to metastasis or recurrence (62.5% vs 37.5%, P < 0.05) and in the group without metastasis or recurrence (78.6% vs 21.4%, P < 0.01). The poorly differentiated tumor and tumor of TNM stages III-IV had a higher positive rate of HPA gene expression than the well differentiated tumor and tumor of TNM stages I-II (66.7% vs 33.3%, P < 0.05). The positive expression rate of nm23-H1 protein in HCC tissue was significantly lower than that in corresponding non-cancerous or normal liver tissue (45.5, 72.7, 88.9%, P < 0.05). nm23-H1 expression was not related with the size of tumor, envelope formation, AFP level, HBsAg state, cirrhosis of liver, Edmondson grade, and TNM stage (P > 0.05). The positive rates of nm23-H1 in the group with high tendency to metastasis and recurrence and in patients with metastasis or recurrence during the follow-up were obviously higher than those in the group with low tendency to metastasis and recurrence (P = 0.018) and in the patients without metastasis and recurrence (P = 0.024); but no significant difference was found between HPA positive and negative groups (P = 0.082). According to the results of follow-up, the rate of accuracy in predicting metastasis of positive HPA, negative nm23-H1 and combination of positive HPA with negative nm23-H1 was 78.6% (11/14), 68.8% (11/16) and 88.9% (8/9), respectively. CONCLUSION: Expression of HPA and/or nm23-H1 is related with metastasis and recurrence of HCC. Detection of the expression rate of HPA and nm23-H1 may help increase the accuracy in predicting post-operative metastasis and recurrence of HCC.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Socioeconomic status differentials in life and active life expectancy among older adults in Beijing.

PURPOSE: The study compares life and active life expectancy estimates across indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) for a cohort of older adults in the Beijing municipality. Our aim is to determine if associations found are consistent across indicators and with those typically observed in the Western industrialized countries. METHOD: A multistate life table method is used to estimate expected years of total and active life, defined as life spent without limitation in functions necessary for performing daily tasks. RESULTS: We find that men of higher status experience advantages with respect to life and active life expectancies. Among women, only active life expectancy is significantly higher for those of higher status, but the difference by income is not statistically significant. With respect to the proportion of life spent in an active state, both men and women of higher status benefit in comparison to their lower status counterparts. Finally, we find that disparities by SES generally increase with age. CONCLUSIONS: Despite several inconsistencies across SES indicators by gender, findings generally confirm inequalities within a society that is organized very differently socially, economically, and politically from the West.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

Protective effects of glycine pretreatment on brain-death donor liver.

BACKGROUND: Morphological and functional changes commonly occur in livers of brain-death donors. Prevention of liver injury from brain-death will benefit the results of transplantation. This study was conducted to evaluate the protection effects of glycine on the liver of brain-death donor. METHODS: Fourty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into brain-death donor (BDD) group (B), glycine pretreatment group with BDD (G), and strychnine pretreatment group with BDD(S). For these groups, brain death model was established in donor rats and liver transplantation was performed subsequently utilizing microsurgical techniques. After the establishment of the model and during cold rinsing of liver donors or liver reperfusion of recipients, glycine was given at a dose of 0.6 mmol, 25 micromol and 25 micromol in the group G, and a same dose of glycine and strychnine (1000 :1) was prescribed for the group S, but nothing for the group B. Before cold rinsing at 2 and 6 hours after portal vein(PV) reperfusion, blood samples were taken from infrahepatic vena cava (IHVC) to determine the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and hyaluronic acid (HA). At 6 hours after PV reperfusion, graft samples were fixed for morphological observation and apoptosis of hepatocytes was detected using the TUNEL method. RESULTS: Before liver cold rinsing and at 2 and 6 hours after PV reperfusion, the serum levels of ALT, AST, TNF-alpha, HA and apoptosis index (AI) in the groups B and S were significantly higher than those in the group G (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups B and S (P>0.05). Electron microscopy showed that Kupffer cells were activated and hepatic cells injured more obviously in the groups B and S than in the group G. CONCLUSION: Glycine pretreatment can improve the viability of the liver of the brain-death donor rat.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

[Seroepidemiology study on Helicobacter pylori (cagA, vacA) infection of elderly people in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in blood serum, its affecting factors and isoforms (CagA,VacA )infection in the elderly people in Beijing. METHODS: 2006 residents were investigated through household questionnaire in different areas of Beijing (urban, suburban and mountainous district), who were older than 60 years old. Serum H. pylori CagA, VacA and Ureas antibody was detected by immunoblotting. RESULTS: The total H. pylori infection rate was 83.4% and the infectious rate of I form pathogenic H. pylori was 56.0%. The incidence rate in urban or suburban district was higher than that of in mountainous district (P < 0.001). I form H. pylori infection rate in people with heavy labor or young elderly were higher than that of intelegent work or older elderly (P < 0.05 ). I form H. pylori infection rate in people of low diet was higher than that of high protein diet (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The rate of H. pylori infection in blood serum was high among the elderly people in Beijing with most of it belonged to type I . However, significant differences were noticed on the distribution of isoforms in different age groups, areas, professions and diet habit.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed2005

[A comprehansive evaluation on stroke prevalence among elderly in urban and rural areas of Beijing, 2002].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and disability of stroke as well as the stroke-related diseases among elderly in urban and rural regions of Beijing. METHODS: In 2002, three communities were selected from urban, suburb and rural regions from Beijing areas, respectively. Twenty percent of the elderly were randomly selected from three communities. The information about history of stroke, hypertension, heart diseases and diabetes, self-rated health (SRH), activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL), smoking and drinking habits, knowledge about cardiovascular diseases prevention were collected. RESULTS: A total of 2487 elderly were interviewed and the prevalence of stroke was 12.9% (321/2481). Eighty-seven of the stroke patients were diagnosed by CT/MRI. 19.9% of stroke patients had experienced 2 or more attacks. The highest prevalence of stroke was in the urban region and the lowest in the rural region (16.9% vs. 8.5%, P for trend < 0.01) while it was higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). The prevalence of stroke tended to increase with age in urban and 34.6% of the stroke patients had recovered completely. The proportions of poor SRH, ADL and IADL dependence, as well as the prevalences of hypertension, heart diseases and diabetes were higher among the elderly with stroke than those without. Although rates of awareness and treatment of hypertension were at the high levels among the elderly with stroke , the control rate was low, especially in the rural region (as low as 4.3%). The level of knowledge on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and the rates of smoking and drinking were similar between the elderly with or without stroke. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of stroke had increased dramatically during the past decade in Beijing. The proportion of poor SHR, ADL and IADL dependence, prevalence rates of stroke related diseases were higher among the elderly with stroke than those without. Secondary prevention of stroke among Beijing elderly called for urgent action.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

[Study on the active life expectancy of the elderly and its longitudinal transition in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: Focus on the Active Life Expectancy (ALE) of elderly in Beijing and the transition in recent years. METHODS: A representative sample of 3257 elderly people who lived in the urban, suburban and rural communities in Beijing that had been followed up for 12 years. Their health and survival status had been surveyed every 2-3 years. Activity Daily Living scale (ADL), recommended by WHO was used to evaluate the physical function capability of the elderly. IMaCH 0.8 was used to estimate life expectancy (LE) and active life expectancy (ALE) for both periods while age, sex and rural/urban residence areas were adjusted. RESULTS: Longitudinally, data showed that the main characters remained unchange throughout the two periods including 1) LE, ALE, ALE/LE of elderly living in urban area were higher than those living in rural area; 2) LE seemed longer in women than men, but ALE/LE was less in women. The transition between two period showed that 1) LE increased modestly in all groups but less prominent in urban residents and in females; 2) ALE was not significantly changed in the rural elderly but declined markedly in women living in the urban area; 3) ALE/LE of the elderly declined in all groups, especially in urban and oldest old groups. CONCLUSION: In Beijing, elderly AL-E did not increase in parallel with the increase of LE while ALE/LE of the elderly declined significantly in recent years. In order to improve quality of life of the elderly and to increase their ALE, emphasis should be given to prevention of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and other chronic diseases while reducing the occurrence of physical disability and strengthening on rehabilitation would be the basic health care measures.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2004

Superconductivity modulated by quantum size effects.

We have fabricated ultrathin lead films on silicon substrates with atomic-scale control of the thickness over a macroscopic area. We observed oscillatory behavior of the superconducting transition temperature when the film thickness was increased by one atomic layer at a time. This oscillating behavior was shown to be a manifestation of the Fabry-Perot interference modes of electron de Broglie waves (quantum well states) in the films, which modulate the electron density of states near the Fermi level and the electron-phonon coupling, which are the two factors that control superconductivity transitions. This result suggests the possibility of modifying superconductivity and other physical properties of a thin film by exploiting well-controlled and thickness-dependent quantum size effects.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

[Diagnosis and treatment of vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting-tumors: one case report and 15 years review in China].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the experiences of diagnosis and treatment for vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting-tumors (VIPoma) by summarizing clinical informations of 15 patients with VIPoma. METHODS: To analyze Clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, imaging features, operation, pathological findings and follow up survey of 15 patients, among them 1 case from our hospital and the other 14 cases were searched in chinese biological and medical literature database from Jan 1987 to Dec 2002. RESULTS: The main clinical manifestation include periodical secretory watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria, in addition, periodical backache, skin rash, and polyps of colon were presented in the case in our hospital. The immunohistochemical expression of many kinds of digestive hormone including VIP presented positive; All clinical symptoms of which except polyps disappeared after operation, elevated VIP data in serum also markedly decreased. Part resection of superior mesenteric vein was performed in the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: VIPoma is rare. Typical symptoms and the serum value of VIP were keys to diagnosis, the operation is the most effective means for treatment. Resection of tumor, Radiofrequency tissue ablation, liver transplantation can be selected for metastatic VIPoma in the liver.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Exploring the influence of depressive symptoms on physical disability: a cohort study of elderly in Beijing, China.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the influence of depressive symptoms on the prevalence of physical disability in a cohort study of Beijing elderly (1992--2000) and analyses the role of some confounding variables in this relationship. METHODS: A cohort of 1828 elderly aged 55 and older who were initially free of any physical disability was followed up for 8 years. Baseline depression was assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Disability on activities of daily living (BADL and IADL) was measured in 1994, 1997, and 2000 respectively. RESULTS: The cumulative percentages of persons who developed BADL disability and IADL disability during each follow-up interview was significantly greater among depressed than non-depressed individuals. Compare with the 1525 non-depressed individuals, the 303 depressed individuals had a relative risk (95% confidence interval) of 2.52 (2.02, 4.82) for BADL disability and 4.98 (2.46, 10.09) for IADL disability, respectively. Although adjustment for confounding factors reduced the risk to 2.20 (1.33, 3.62) and 4.29 (2.08, 8.86), the detrimental effect of depression on disability remained significant. The items of IADL which connected physical activity had higher impairment among depressed individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Depression in elderly persons may increase the risk for prevalent disability. It is very important for elders to prevent and reduce depression for improving the quality of their life and physical function.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

[Evaluation of predictive effect of some health-related indices on deaths among ageing residents through a 8-years' follow-up study in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To study the predictive effects of some health status indicators to deaths in the elderly population. METHODS: In 1992, a cohort of 3257 people older than 55 years old was formed from Beijing urban and suburb area. Demographic and information of activity of daily living (ADL), self-rated health (SRH), chronic diseases history and other related variables were collected at baseline survey in 1992. MMSE and CES-D were studied in 2101 on 3257 elderly people. Follow-up surveys were conducted in 1994, 1997 and 2000, to find that a total number of or= 75), resident place (suburb) and education level (illiteracy). The functional disability, poor self-rated health status, history of chronic diseases and abnormal cognition function were the major predictors of deaths. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment for sex, age, residential place, education level and history of chronic diseases, functional disability, poor self-rated health status and abnormal cognition function remained as significant independent predictors to death. CONCLUSIONS: Functional disability, poor self-rated health status and abnormal cognition function were the most valuable indicators of death. Not only they had joined predictive effects to death, but also remained relatively independent. They had important value in the evaluation on healthy prognosis and the life quality of the elderly.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2004

Surgical treatment of 1360 cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome: 20-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a disease caused by blood flow obstruction of the main hepatic veins (MHVs) and/or the outlet of the inferior vena cava (IVC), characterized by retrohepatic portal hypertension (PHT) and/or IVC hypertension. In the past decade, over 3000 cases of BCS have been reported in China. This study was to sum up our 20-year experience in surgical treatment of BCS and to investigate its pathological classification and principles of surgery. METHODS: The data from 1360 BCS patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Four types (6 subtypes) were classified according to IVC angiography and hepatovenography: type Ia (594 patients), type Ib (123), type II (292), type IIIa (237), type IIIb (112), and type IV (2). Surgical procedures included: improved splenopneumopexy (265 cases), finger or balloon membranotomy (407), radical resection of membrane and thrombus (275), IVC bypass (88: cavocaval transflow 71 cases, and cavoatrial transflow 17 cases), mesocaval C-shape shunt (192), splenocaval shunt (32), splenoatrial shunt (23), splenojugular shunt (57), mesoatrial shunt (8), and combined methods (6), including plenal-cavoatrial shunt (4), and mesocavoatrial shunt (2), splenorenal shunt (4), mesojugular shunt (2), and other methods (1). The perioperative death rate and the complication rate after operation was 3.09% (42/1360) and 14.8% (201/1360) respectively. 885 cases were followed up from 9 months to 15 years (average 6.8+/-1.2 years. The 791 (89.4%) of 885 patients were successfully treated, 61 patients (6.89%) had a recurrence, and 33 died. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of BCS is dependent on a correct diagnosis and classification of the disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Clinical analysis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in patients suffering from SARS].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the features of organ dysfunction in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the factors inducing multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in these patients. METHODS: The clinical data of 135 SARS patients and 13 patients with severe SARS complicated by MODS were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: SARS could result in organ dysfunction. Its incidence rate was high, the patients' condition was severe, and the mortality was higher. SARS could end in MODS and the mortality was 92.3x. The main dysfunctioning organs were the lung (76.9x), the immune system (92.3x), the cardiovascular system (30.8x), the blood system (61.5x), the liver (38.5x), and the kidney (53.8x). CONCLUSION: Dysfunction of organs are closely correlated with prognosis of SARS. The causes of MODS in SARS are probably injury to the immune system and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Blood pressure and related cognition among elderly residents in the community in Beijing - a 4-year longitudinal study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between blood pressure and related cognitive function with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in the elderly community residents in Beijing. METHODS: A selected sample of 60 years old and over from the communities was randomized ascertained to a longitudinal study in Beijing. The baseline data was produced in 1993, in which blood pressure, MMSE and a multidisciplinary questionnaire were involved. 4 years later in 1997, a similar procedure was repeated in 2079 elderly people whose MMSE scores were normal during the baseline study. RESULTS: The mean systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and MMSE score were 141.77 +/- 24.94 mm Hg, 81.76 +/- 12.08 mm Hg and 25.65 +/- 3.59 in baseline. The MMSE score was 23.24 +/- 5.63 in the follow-up study. Significant decline in cognition was defined as a decrease of 4 score and over during the 4-years study. The proportion of significant decline in cognition in the follow-up was larger when the systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure having an increase in baseline data. Further stratified observation showed that factors as elderly with elevated blood pressure, under 75 years old from rural areas without diabetes mellitus or antihypertensive medication were more commonly seen in the ones with significant cognition decline. Increased incidence of cognitive decline was found in those with increased level of hypertension. This association was also seen in systolic blood pressure after adjustment of heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: In the 4-year longitudinal study, cognitive dysfunction might cause elevated baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the elderly people whose baseline MMSE scores were normal.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

[Study on the relationship between self-rated health situation and health status in the elderly-an 8-year follow-up study from Multidimentional Longitudinal Study of Aging in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between self-rated health (SRH) and prevalence of chronic diseases, and all-cause mortality in the elderly population. METHODS: In 1992, a cohort of 3257 people > or = 55 years old was selected from Beijing, the information of SRH and other related variables were collected from 3 157 subjects at the baseline survey. Three follow-up surveys were conducted in 1994, 1997 and 2000, respectively. RESULTS: The SRH was influenced by age, gender, marriage status and satisfaction on their own economic condition. Comparing the subjects with excellent SRH, the prevalence rates of chronic diseases, stroke, heart diseases and respiratory system diseases were almost doubled among those with average and poor SRH. By 2000, 993 death occurred. All-cause mortality was negatively associated with SRH, i.e. the risk of death was 12% which was 53% higher for the subjects with average SRH (HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.93 - 1.35) and poor SRH (HR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.25 - 1.88) than those with excellent SRH, respectively. The risks of death from stroke and heart disease were 2.25 (HR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.67 - 3.04) and 2.22 (HR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.61 - 3.07) times higher among the subjects with poor SRH than those with excellent SRH respectively. After adjustment for age, gender, resident place, marriage status, education, satisfaction on their own economic condition, seeing doctors or hospitalized within the last 1 year, history of chronic disease, cognition function, body mass index, activities of daily living and depression, as well as deleted the subjects died within first or third year of the baseline survey respectively, poor SRH remained a significantly independent predictor to all-cause death as well as to the death of stroke and heart diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of poor SRH was influenced by age, gender, marriage status and satisfaction on their own economic condition. Poor SRH was associated with the prevalence of chronic conditions and mortality among the elderly. The findings suggested that SRH might have served as an important indicator in the evaluation on health status among the elderly.

Activities of Daily Living↗