Objective: To identify the predictive parameters and threshold values for thoracic radiationinduced pneumonitis after complete pneumonectomy for NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer). Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients with NSCLC were enrolled prospectively in this study between April 2007 and October 2010. All patients underwent thoracic radiotherapy (three-dimension conformal radiotherapy or intensity-modulated radiotherapy) after pneumonectomy. Lung dosimetric parameters such as MLD (mean lung dose) and percentage of lung volume receiving 5 Gy or more (V5), V10, V15, V 20 and V30 were recorded. The relevance of these parameters and radiation-induced pneumonitis was assessed by ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve to pick up the more predictive parameters and also to set up the threshold limit values. Results: Of the 44 patients, 13 patients (29.5%) developed grade 2 or greater radiation-induced pneumonitis; among the 13 patients, 4 developed grade 3 radiation-induced pneumonitis. No patients developed grade 4 or 5 pneumonitis. The median time from the end of radiotherapy to the onset of pneumonitis was 2 months. All the cases of pneumonitis were diagnosed within 9 months, and 84.6% (11/13) were confirmed within 6 months after radiotherapy. Three parameters with the largest area under the ROC curve were V5 (0.824), MLD (0.806) and V10 (0.801). The threshold values of the 3 parameters were calculated to be 21.5%, 450 cGy and 8.5%, respectively. As for the 4 patients with grade 3 pneumonitis, the MLD<800 cGy (804-887cGy), V5 < 30% (28%-42%) and V10<20% (20%-36%). Conclusion: It is safe and feasible to give radiation therapy to thorax after pneumonectomy. To avoid pneumonitis of grade 2 or more, it is recommended that the dose to the contralateral lung should be constrained as V5 < 21.5% (sensitivity 78.6%, specificity 84.6%), MLD < 450 cGy (sensitivity 79.6%, specificity 65.4%) and V10 < 8.5% (sensitivity 85.7%, specificity 61.5%). To avoid severe pneumonitis of grade 3 or more, the MLD of the contralateral lung should be limited below 800 cGy. © 2012 by Tumor.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the preterm infants after premature rupture of the membranes(PROM)brain injury and some cellular factors in the umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid,and ana-lyze the biological markers with great predictive value,and provide a theoretical basis for early monitoring of brain injury in premature infants. Methods One hundred and thirty - nine singleton infants with PROM,their gestation less than 34 weeks,were evaluated. The umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid of cytokines,including interleukin - 1β(IL - 1β),IL - 4,IL - 6,IL - 8,IL - 10,IL - 17A,tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF - α),granulocyte colony - stimu-lating factor(G - CSF),monocyte chemotactic protein - 1(MCP - 1),S100B protein and soluble intercellular adhe-sion molecule - 1(sICAM - 1)levels were measured with Luminex liquid chip. All the premature infants underwent brain imaging for the diagnosis of brain damage. All cases were divided into brain injury group and non - brain injury group based on brain imaging examination. Results The concentration of IL - 10 in cord blood was significantly lower in the brain injury group than that in the non - brain injury group,and the difference was statistically significant(P ﹤0. 05). The levels of IL - 1β,IL - 6,IL - 8,TNF - α,G - CSF,MCP - 1,S100B and sICAM - 1 in the brain injury group were significantly higher than those of non - brain injury group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ﹤ 0. 05). The levels of IL - 1β,IL - 6,IL - 8,TNF - α,G - CSF,MCP - 1 and sICAM - 1 in the amniotic fluid were significantly higher than those of non - brain injury group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P ﹤ 0. 05),but amniotic fluid S100B protein level was similar between 2 groups,which had no statistical significance (P ﹥ 0. 05). To predict the value of brain damage in premature infants,the highest sensitivity in cord blood was S100B protein,the highest specificity was IL - 6. The highest sensitivity in amniotic fluid was IL - 1β,and the highest specificity was IL - 8. The levels of IL - 4 and IL - 17A in the umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid,IL - 10 in amniotic fluid were very low,and had no predictive value for brain damage. Conclusions Many biological markers in umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid provide information about the risk of brain injury in premature infants. The highest sensitivity in cord blood was S100B protein,the highest specificity was IL - 6. The highest sensitivity in amniotic fluid was IL - 1β,the highest specificity was IL - 8. Changes in inflammation - related biomarkers suggest that brain damage in the preterm infants might be associated with intrauterine inflammation.

Objective　To investigate the effect of breast milk and some other kinds of infant foods on the adhesion of EPEC to Hela cells and intestinal mucosa so as to understand the possible protective mechanism of breast-feeding in the intestine of infants. Methods　The adhesion of EPEC to Hela cells and intestinal mucosa were examined by cell culture, bacterial adherence test, light and electron microscopy in the mediums that contain breast milk, cow's milk and formula milk or contain ecal filtrate of the infants fed by breast milk and formula milk respectively. Results　Adhesive index for EPEC to Hela cells was significantly lower in the medium containing breast milk than in control and so did in the fecal medium containing breast fed infants than artificial feeding infants. Conclusion　Breast milk may inhibit the adhesion of EPEC to infant intestine.

Objective To investigate the effect of surgical trauma on the expression of COX-2 and PGE2in the hippocampus in aged rats. Methods Forty-five 18-month-old male SD rats weighing 500-600 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 15 each): group Ⅰ control (group C); group Ⅱ anesthesia (group A) and group Ⅲ surgery + anesthesia (group S). Anesthesia was induced by intraperitoneal 1% pentobarbital sodium 50 mg/kg in group A and S. The animals underwent appendectomy and splenectomy under anesthesia in group S.Cognitive function was assessed by open field test and Y-mase test on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after anesthesia and surgery (T1-3). The animals were sacrificed after behavior tests at T1.2.3 and the hippocampi were removed for determination of the expression of COX-2 mRNA (by RT-PCR) and PGE2 content (by ELISA). Results The time the animal spent in the central square was significantly prolonged, the number of crossing grid and standing on the back legs and the number of right response were decreased, the total reaction time was prolonged and the COX-2mRNA expression at T1 and PGE2 content in the hippocampus were increased at T1,2 in group S as compared with group C and A. There was no significant difference in the variables mentioned above between group C and A. Conclusion Surgical trauma can induce early postoperative cognitive dysfunction through up-regulation of COX-2 mRNA expression and by increasing PGE2 content in the hippocampus in aged rats.

Objective:To study the improvement effect of Sophora Flavones combined with captopril on the rat diabetic cardiomyopathy,and to clarify its mechanisms of improving the myocardial fibrosis.Methods:Fifteen rats were selected randomly from 100 male Wistar rats as normal group.The other rats were fed with high fat and high sugar food and intraperitoneally injected with small dose of streptozotocin (30 mg· kg-1 )all at once to establish type 2 diabetes mellitus cardiomgopathy models.Then 72 rat models with type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy were set up in which 60 rats were selected according to the blood glucose levels and divided into model group, captopril group,Sophora Flavones group,and Sophora Flavones combined with captopril group (combination group) (n=15).8 weeks after intragastric administration,the weights,the cardiac indexes,the activities of serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH ), and the contents of nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS),collagen Ⅰ (Col Ⅰ)and collagen Ⅲ (Col Ⅲ)of the rats in various groups were detected. Results:Compared with normal group,the weight of the rats in model group was decreased and the cardiac index was increased (P <0.01),the activities of serum LDH and CK-MB were increased (P < 0.01),the contents of iNOS and NO in the myocardium tissue of the rats in model group were decreased (P <0.01),and the contents of Col Ⅰ and col Ⅲ were increased (P <0.05 or P <0.01).Compared with model group,the weights and the cardiac indexes of the rats in medication groups were decreased (P <0.05),the activities of serum LDH and CK-MB were decreased (P <0.05 or P <0.01),the contents of iNOS and NO in the myocardium tissue were increased (P <0.05),and the contents of Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ were decreased (P <0.05 or P <0.01).The effect of combination group was better than single medication groups (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Combination of Sophora Flavones and captopril has a improvement effect on the rat type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy,and its mechanism may be related to reducing the myocardial injury to improve diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of noninvasive bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilation after extubation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure.Methods Forty-one intubated COPD eases with severe respiratory failure due to pulmonary infection (pneumonia or purulent bronchitis) were involved in the study.At the time of pulmonary infection control (PIC) window,the extubation was conducted and followed by BiPAP ventilation in 21 cases (the experimental group),while the other 20 COPD cases with similar clinical characteristics,as the control group,who continuously received invasive mechanical ventilation after PIC window.Outcomes including the duration of invasive ventilation,the total duration of ventilation support,success rate,the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and mortality rate were observed and compared between the two groups.Results The two groups had similar clinical characteristics and gas exchange at the time of PIC window (P ＞ 0.05 ).Compared with the control group,the experimental group had shorter duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (6.9±3.0) d vs.(13.1 ±4.3) d,t=5.38,P＜0.001),lower rate of VAP (1/20 vs.8/20,x2 =5.51,P=0.02) andhigher extubation rate (20/21 vs.13/20,x2 =4.19,P =0.04).Conclusion In COPD patients with intubation and mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure,BiPAP ventilation after extubation at the point of PIC window may improve patients' prognosis.

Aim To explore the protective effect of ac-tive components of Xiaoxuming decoction ( XXMD ) on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats dur-ing early recovery period .Methods The ischemia and reperfusion of middle cerebral artery model rats were established by nylon wire with 2 hours ischemic time on healthy male SD rats .The models of MCAO were eval-uated by Zea-Longa′s standard score .The model rats were randomly divided into sham operation group , the ischemia/reperfusion model group , the active compo-nents group of Xiaoxuming decoction and the positive group (extract of ginkgo biloba leaves EGb 761).Rats were orally administrated with different drugs 24 h after operation for up to 14 days, once a day.The effect of active components of Xiaoxuming decoction on behavior changes of MCAO rats in different recovery period was evaluated by a series of behavioral assessent methods such as modified neurological severity scores and cor-ner test.The infarct volume was observed by TTC stai-ning.Moreover, the contents of MDA and the activities of GSH-Px, SOD and NOS in the penumbra and core tissues of rat brain were detected by spectrophotometric method.Results Compared with the I/R model group, the active components group of XXMD could significantly alleviate the neurological deficit scores with prolonged administration . The motion function tended to be normal , stayed longer on the balance beam, sensory function gradually restored sensitivity , reduced the radio of turning to the right .Among them , compared with model group , the active components of XXMD could effectively improve the neurological dys-function after five days of administration ( P<0.05, P<0.01).Meanwhile, the active components of Xiaox-uming decoction could significantly reduce the infarct volume percentage in the cerebral tissue on post opera-tion day 5 and 14(P<0.01).In addition, the active components of XXMD could reduce the content of MDA and the activity of NOS , increase the activity of SOD and GSH-Px.Conclusion The active components of XXMD can generate neuroprotective effect in early stage of recovery and may play a major role in regula-ting the level of oxidative stress in rat brain .

Background and purpose:Metabolism change is one of the main characteristics of the tumor de-velopment. Many studies have conifrmed that cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) plays a critical role in hydro-carbon metabolism of cancer cells. This study aimed to explore the effect of ACSS2 on cellular proliferation, apoptosis and migration of A549 cells by RNA interference.Methods:The ACSS2 interference fragment ACSS2-siRNA and neg-ative control were designed and synthesized for RNA interference followed by the transient transfection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A549. Real-time lfuorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTFQ-PCR) was used to detect ACSS2 mRNA expression. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), lfow cytometry and wound healing assay were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis rate and migration.Results:The expression of ACSS2 mRNA was signiifcantly decreased after transfection with the interference fragment ACSS2-siRNA in NSCLC cell line A549. The proliferation and migration activity of ACSS2-siRNA treated cells were decreased significantly compared with the control group. The apoptosis rate, especially the early apoptosis, was increased..Conclusion:Knockdown of the ACSS2 expression in NSCLC cell line A549 can signiifcantly inhibit the cell proliferation, migration ability and pro-mote the apoptosis rate, especially early apoptosis. This study indicates that ACSS2 may contribute to the progression of human lung adenocarcinoma and may have the potential to serve as a novel therapeutic target.

Objective This study was designed to assess whether Bushen Tongluo Fang(BSTLF),a Chinese materia medica formula,can ameliorate the hypercoagulable state in rats with membranous glomerulonephritis(MGN)induced by cationized bovine serum albumin(C-BSA)in order to gain an insight into the mechanisms responsible for its therapeutic effect.Methods Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly separated into six groups:the normal control group,the MGN model group,the prednisone-plus-aspirin treatment group,and the low-,moderate-,and high-dose groups of BSTLF.The model of MGN was induced by sc(preimmunization)and iv injections of C-BSA in the latter five groups.After the development of MGN model,the decoctions of BSTLF and the prednisone-plus-aspirin solution were ig administered to the treatment groups respectively twice daily for four weeks.The rats in the model group received their drinking water as vehicle controls.Urinary albumin excretion for 24 h was measured using a rat albumin ELISA kit.The platelet aggregation was analyzed by turbidimetry.The plasma level of fibri-nogen(Fib)was determined by the von Clauss assay.Radioimmunoassay was used to examine thromboxane B2(TXB2)and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1?(6-keto-PGF1?)of the renal cortex.Results Urinary albumin excretion for 24 h,maximal platelet aggregation,plasma Fib level,and TXB2 production of renal cortex in the MGN model group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group,respectively.Compared with the MGN model group,these four measurements were decreased significantly in BSTLF-treated groups.The 6-keto-PGF1? production of renal cortex in the MGN model group was subnormal but no statistically significant differences were observed between the model group and BSTLF groups.Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the administration of BSTLF could attenuate platelet aggregability,lower plasma level of Fib and reduce thromboxane A2 production by renal cortex in the rats with MGN,so that their hypercoagulable state is corrected at least partly and glomerular microthroimbosis is prevented in several ways.These effects may contribute considerably to the mechanisms of BSTLF efficacy for chronic nephritis.

Objective To construct eukaryotic expression vector of human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 pPIC9-LL-37, and transform the plasmid pPIC9-LL-37 into P.pastoris GS115 to obtain the recombinant P.pastoris strains.Methods The full-length of antimicsobial peptide LL-37 gene was artificially synthesized by overlap extension method and was fused to pPIC9 and then the fused plasmid was transformed into E.coli DH5?.After analysis by PCR and sequencing,the plasmid pPIC9-LL-37 was transformed into P.pastoris.The colonies exhibiting the phenotype of His+Mut+ or His+Mut-were screened by means of MM and MD plates and the insertion was confirmed by PCR.Results The results of PCR and sequencing confirmed that the LL-37 gene was correctly inserted into pPIC9. The colonies of 10 His+Mut+ and 9 His+Mut-were obtained by means of MM and MD plates screening and were confirmed by PCR.Conclsion The recombinant P.pastoris strains containing LL-37 were successfully obtained.