Objective To explore the aberrant expressions of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its activation form,pmTOR,in stage IIIB human colon cancer,and analyze the association of mTOR and pmTOR with clinicopathologic characteristics and patients' prognosis. Methods A total of 104 patients with stage IIIB (T 3-4 N1M0) colon cancer with available follow-up data were enrolled. The specimens of colon cancer and clinical data were acquired from these subjects. The expressions of mTOR and pmTOR in tumor tissues and matched normal tissues were detected with immunohistochemistry. The relationship and its significance between the expressions of mTOR and pmTOR and some clinicopathological features,such as gender,age,location of primary tumor,pathological stage and TNM stage,were analyzed. Results The mTOR and pmTOR were found to be expressed in cell membrane and cytoplasm of tumor tissues. Out of the total 104 specimens,positive rate of mTOR and pmTOR accounted for 75.9% (79/104) and 76.9% (80/104),respectively. No significant correlation was noted between the expressions of mTOR and pmTOR and the clinicopathological features by partial correlation analysis. Both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that the expressions of mTOR and pmTOR threw no significant influence on the 5-year overall survival of patients. Nevertheless,subgroup analysis suggested that a high expression of pmTOR along tumor border was likely to contribute to higher risk of death in patients. Conclusion Aberrant expressions of mTOR and pmTOR are noted in patients with locally advanced colon cancer. High expression of pmTOR along the border of tumor tissue may suggest the possibility of invasion and metastasis.

Mice of Kunming strain were infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae previously incubated with various concentrations of acridine mutagen ICR-170 for different time durations. At 6 weeks after infection, the mice were autopsied. The results showed that 24 out of 28(85. 7%) adult female worms had deformed or lacked ovaries and vitelline glands when the cercariae were treated with the agent at a concentration of 10?g/ml and incubated at 30. 5℃ for 30min. No apparnet changes were observed in the male worms inhabiting the mesenteric and portal veins with the females worms in their gynecophoral canals. The mutagenized female schistosomes obtained from the present experiment might be served as another form of attenuated worms for the induction of protective immunity.

Objective To evaluate the current status of intestinal nematode infection in Shanghai and make recommendations for further control activities Methods Retrospective review of the control program was made based on the change of nematode prevalence in Shanghai area since the 1950s, and challenges under the current situation were analysed. Results The intervention measures included chemotherapy, health education, sanitary disposal of human excreta and safe water supply. With the control strategy, socio\|economical development and the change of farming patterns, the prevalence of intestinal nematode infection in population was reduced by 88\^5%, from 62\^6% in 1955 to 8\^2% in 2000. Among them, ascaris infection decreased by 89\^0%, from 52\^1% to 6\^3%, hookworm infection decreased by 99\^0%, from 12\^9% to 0\^1%, but pinworm infection was still as high as 18\^9% in 1999. Conclusion Prevalence of nematode infection in Shanghai was considerably reduced. To match it with the current socio\|economical development in the Municipality, however, more needs to be done. Sustainable control activities and surveillance are recommended.