(E)-N′-(2-Chloro­benzyl­idene)-3,5-di­hydroxy­benzohydrazide dihydrate

In the Schiff base mol­ecule of the title compound, C14H11ClN2O3·2H2O, the benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 20.6 (1)°. The water molecules of crystallization are involved in the formation of a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network via O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Mental hospital reform in Asia: the case of Yuli Veterans Hospital, Taiwan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Yuli Veterans Hospital (YVH) has been the largest mental hospital for the patients with chronic and severe mental illness in Taiwan for the past 50 years. While this hospital used to be a symbol of hopelessness among patients and their families and an unspoken shame among Taiwan psychiatry and mental health circles it now represents an example of how an old, custodial hospital can be transformed into a very different institution. In this case study we will describe the features of this transformation, which, over the past 20 years, has aimed to help extended stay inpatients with severe mental illness to integrate into the local community of Yuli even though it is not their original home.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using historical documents and oral narratives from Yuli inhabitants, workers and patients of YVH, we will offer a case study of the Yuli model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There are four main components of the Yuli model: holistic medical support, vocational rehabilitation, case management, and the residential program. The four components help patients recover two essential features of their lives: vocational life and ordinary daily routines. As the process of recovery evolves, patients gradually regain inner stability, dignity, self-confidence, and a sense of control. The four components are critical to rebuild the structure and order of life of the patients and are indispensable and interdependent parts of one service package. They operate simultaneously to benefit the patients to the greatest degree possible.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>There are many challenges to the further development and financial viability of the model of services developed at YVH. There are also important questions concerning the replicability of the Yuli model in other sociocultural and service system contexts.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case study reveals the possibility of transforming a custodial mental hospital into a hospital providing high quality care. Hospital and community are not in opposition. They are part of a continuum of care for the patients. We reinterpret and redefine the boundary and function of hospital and community, and thereby create a new service model, the Yuli Model, to help patients to reintegrate into the community. The Yuli model, which particularly focuses on the needs of people with long-standing illness and prolonged hospital stay, illustrates one approach to linking hospital and community in a creative and constructive manner.</p

Planning Review: Application of Vertical Greening for Landscape Beautification in Taipei

For the improvement of city landscape, vertical greening by plantation is one of the effective approaches. In the past few years, vertical greening has gained significant progress in both technological development and practical application. Thanks to the 2010 Flora Expo, vertical greening has made significant contribution to the landscape beautification in Taipei. Among various applications, temporary greening of fences surrounding construction sites has developed a unique landscape for Taipei city. In this paper, potential environmental benefits and application experience of vertical greening in Taipei city will be reviewed and discussed

Bilateral retinal pigment epithelial rips in hypertensive choroidopathy

AbstractSevere systemic hypertension can cause significant damage to the eye. Although hypertensive retinopathy is a well-known complication, hypertensive optic neuropathy and hypertensive choroidopathy are much less common. The aim of this article is to report an unusual case of hypertensive choroidopathy with bullous exudative retinal detachments in both eyes. The retinal detachments spontaneously resolved after blood pressure was controlled. However, multiple large retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) rips were found in both eyes. These RPE rips may be related to severe choroidal ischemia, and their locations may be compatible with the watershed zones of the choroidal perfusions

Effects of Hyperuricemia on Renal Function of Renal Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor of nephropathy, but its role in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) is controversial. METHODS: Based on the methods of Cochrane systematic reviews, we searched MEDLINE (1948-2011.6), EMBASE (1956-2011.6), CBM (Chinese Biomedicine Database) (1978-2011.6) to identify cohort studies assessing the association between uric acid level and kidney allograft. Two authors independently screened the studies, assessed the risk of bias of included studies and extracted data. Unadjusted odds ratio (OR), mean difference (MD), adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and their corresponding 95%CI were pooled to assess the effects of hyperuricemia on kidney allograft. RESULTS: Twelve cohort studies were included and the quality was moderate to high based on the NEWCASTLE-OTTAWA quality assessment scale. RTRs with hyperuricemia had lower eGFR (P<0.0001, 95%CI-16.34∼6.14) and higher SCr (P<0.00001, 95%CI 0.17∼0.31) than those with normal uric acid level. Meta-analysis showed that hyperuricemia was a risk factor of chronic allograft nephropathy (Unadjusted OR = 2.85, 95%CI 1.84∼4.38, adjusted HR = 1.65, 95%CI 1.02∼2.65) and graft loss (Unadjusted OR = 2.29, 95%CI 1.55∼3.39; adjusted HR = 2.01, 95%CI 1.39∼2.94). CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that hyperuricemia may be an independent risk factor of allograft dysfunction. Hyperuricemia may modestly increase the risk of poor outcomes of RTRs. Future research is needed to verify whether lowering uric acid level could improve the kidney function and prognosis of RTRs with hyperuricemia

Korean Red Ginseng Suppresses Metastasis of Human Hepatoma SK-Hep1 Cells by Inhibiting Matrix Metalloproteinase-2/-9 and Urokinase Plasminogen Activator

Korean red ginseng and ginsenosides have been claimed to possess wide spectrum of medicinal effects, of which anticancer effect is one. The present study was undertaken to investigate the antimetastatic effect of Korean red ginseng on human hepatoma as well as possible mechanisms. The inhibitory effect of the water extract of Korean red ginseng (WKRG) on the invasion and motility of SK-Hep1 cells was evaluated by the Boyden chamber assay in vitro. Without causing cytotoxicity, WKRG exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the invasion and motility, but not adhesion, of highly metastatic SK-Hep1 cells. Zymography analyses revealed significant downregulating effects on MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA activities in SK-Hep1 cells. Western blot analyses also showed that WKRG treatment caused dose-dependent decreases in MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expressions. Moreover, WKRG increased the levels of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and PAI-1. The present study not only demonstrated that invasion and motility of cancer cells were inhibited by WKRG, but also indicated that such effects were likely associated with the decrease in MMP-2/-9 and uPA expressions of SK-Hep1 cells